TAUNTON Town manager Leigh Robinson praised the character and desire of his squad after the Peacocks wrapped up the title with five games to spare.

Town's 1-0 win at home to Evesham yesterday, combined with Salisbury's defeat against Cinderford, handed Robinson's men an unassailable 20-point lead at the top of the table.

AS IT HAPPENED: Peacocks wrap up title with home win

The Peacocks boss had spoken last weekend about securing the title quickly and was delighted to have the landmark sealed.

"It’s all happened so quickly to be honest, with the Monday game going in our favour and Salisbury losing – I had a feeling about today," he said.

“We spoke beforehand about wanting to get it done either today or Tuesday in front of our own fans, and it’s nicer to do it on a Saturday so it’s great timing.

“It’s been fantastic. The hunger we’ve got is absolutely phenomenal. We were disappointed last year not to go up but the lads have picked themselves up and the desire to keep going Saturday, Tuesday after Saturday, Tuesday has been the same throughout the season."

The success comes after several years of near misses in the play-offs, with last year's semi-final defeat at local rivals Tiverton Town particularly tough to stomach.

“I’ve said to the lads in there that everything happens for a reason," Robinson said.

"We’ve had a few play-off disappointments but I look at that and think that’s because this was our moment, we are going to do it better than in the play-offs by winning the league.

“It makes it a little bit sweeter as it’s nicer to be champions than go up through the play-offs – it’s our moment and these things happen for a reason."

For Robinson, attention now turns to next year and, given the mix within the squad of those who have played at a higher level and those eager to prove themselves, the Town boss is confident his side can continue to compete.

“We are better prepared on and off the pitch," he said.

"The set up off the pitch is phenomenal with the support we get from the chairman [Kevin Sturmey], the crowds are picking up and the momentum will carry through to next season, so I think we are in a great place to be able to compete.

“The boys will celebrate long and hard, and rightly so, and so will the people that run the club, but football moves so fast so for me as a manager I have no time to celebrate.

"It’s all about building for next year and making sure we’re as strong as possible come August and September – it’s my duty to the club to do that."

The first of Town's five remaining fixtures comes at home to Slimbridge on Tuesday night, with Robinson willing to give game time to players who have been watching from the sidelines in recent weeks.

“We can have a little bit of fun," he said.

"We wanted to get our most consistent and familiar team out to get over the line, and the lads on the bench have understood that, so now will be the time for them to have a run out and say thank you to them as well.

"It wasn’t the best [against Evesham] – it was quite a strange game on a heavy pitch. We were leggy and lacked a bit of energy, but it was like a lot of games this season – we weren’t at our best and ended up with three points.”