TAUNTON Town go into Saturday’s match at Basingstoke Town (ko 3pm), knowing that a win might, just might, see them crowned as Premier Division South champions.

The Peacocks’ title dream died and rose again on Easter Monday, as the hosts fought back from 2-0 down to beat Merthyr Town at the Viridor Stadium.

READ MORE: Browne on Town - "Whatever happens, Taunton have had a remarkable season"

Matt Buse scored Taunton’s match-winning third goal in the 90th minute, leading to jubilant scenes and lavish praise from head of football Rob Dray.

Dray told the County Gazette: “I’m very proud of the boys, to come from two down when we had totally dominated the game.

“To come back from that... it’s something you just can’t buy.

“We were doing well in the game, so we just had to keep a level head and keep focused.

“We knew the subs we were going to make, we’d discussed what to do if we went a goal down, so it was all in the plan.

“I know we’ll always make chances at home, so as soon as we got one I had a little feeling there was something about us.

“We had a great crowd [801 attended], very noisy, and they sucked the ball in for the third goal.”

Dray wanted his side to take the title race down to the final weekend, and they’ve done just that.

Taunton need to win at Basingstoke and hope Weymouth slip up at home to Farnborough - click here for the full permutations.

He said: “To break Weymouth’s lead from eight points to one over the last couple of weeks, and take it to the last game, it’s an unbelievable effort from everybody in the first year of us being in this division.

“[To secure second] is a massive achievement, and I think in time people will realise how good it’s been.

“It’s one of those situations where you get a little bit carried away with yourself and think ‘OK, so we didn’t quite get first’.

“But to be second in our first year is a great, great achievement.”

Opposition in focus

YOU know what’s at stake for Taunton Town on Saturday.

But there’s also plenty for Basingstoke Town to play for in the final game of the season, as they sit just one point outside of the relegation zone.

As it stands, Walton Casuals are joining Frome Town and Staines Town in going down, but their 48 points leaves them just behind Hendon, Gosport Borough and Basingstoke (all 49), Tiverton Town (50) and Wimborne Town (51).

Basingstoke, known as the Dragons and based at the Camrose, finished 10th in the Southern League Premier Division last year.

But manager Jason Bristow left for Eastleigh in November and was replaced by Martin Kuhl, an ex-Birmingham City and Portsmouth player and experienced coach with Reading.

The Dragons only lost one of their first seven games, winning four of them and drawing 0-0 at the Viridor Stadium on September 1.

But then the wheels came off: 13 games between September 29 and December 29 brought nine defeats.

Since then they’ve just about kept their heads above water, with crucial wins against Kings Langley, Swindon Supermarine and Wimborne, while easing past the bottom two sides – Staines 10-3 (!) and Frome 4-1 last Saturday.

Sam Argent scored twice in that game, and he has 17 strikes in the league this season.

Scoring has not been a problem for the Hampshire side, their 80 league goals bettered only by the top four and Harrow Borough, but with 80 conceded, only Staines have let in more.

Their goal difference is superior to all the other bottom nine sides, but they certainly won’t be taking survival for granted.

FOLLOW Saturday's league finale with a live blog from Basingstoke, at countygazette.co.uk/sport