TAUNTON Town face two derby matches in the next week, starting with today’s Boxing Day fixture against Weston-super-Mare (3pm).

The hosts sit fourth in the Southern League Premier South standings, with Weston down in 11th, but the Peacocks’ head of football Rob Dray still expects a tough test at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium.

“Weston are keen to get back up to the National League, and they’re spending a fair bit of money,” he told the County Gazette.

“It will be tough for us, as I think they’ve underachieved a bit, and on derby day league positions don’t mean as much.

“But we’ve trained well this week, and we’re in a good place.”

Dray, who expects to have a full squad available, added: “We want to be the best team in the [Somerset] area, and a win on Thursday will solidify our position in the play-offs.”

Next Wednesday (January 1, 3pm) sees Taunton make the short trip to face fierce rivals Tiverton Town.

The Peacocks won the reverse fixture 3-1 back in August, but Tivvy top the table going into the Boxing Day games, with five wins from their last six.

The opposition

Visitors Weston have had an up-and-down time of it so far this season, after their relegation from National League South in the last campaign.

The Seagulls currently lie 11th in the Premier South standings, with seven wins, five draws and seven defeats from their 19 games so far.

They started out well enough, drawing their opening two league games but going unbeaten in their first seven in all competitions.

But then it all went very badly wrong, losing 10 of their next 18 and only winning four.

The nadir came on November 26, when an admittedly young Weston side were thrashed 12-1 by lower-tier Paulton Rovers in the Challenge Cup.

Things have picked up in the last two matches, though, as the Seagulls won 2-1 at Yate Town and 4-0 at Harrow Borough.

James Waite scored a hat-trick in the latter match, but their most consistent scorer has been player/assistant manager Scott Laird.

Laird, formerly of Stevenage and Preston North End, has nine league goals so far.

Also netting against Harrow was Bradley Ash, a forward who has joined on loan from Hereford.

Central midfielder Lloyd Humphries has come in on loan from Cardiff City, and utility player Vincent Harper arrives from Bristol City.