AFTER two home matches this week, Taunton Town head to Hampshire to take on Gosport Borough on Saturday (ko 3pm).

The Peacocks are full of confidence after two home wins in the space of five days, scoring eight goals in the process - following up last Saturday's 4-2 win over Wimborne Town with a 4-0 victory over Walton Casuals on Wednesday.

Now they head to mid-table Gosport, looking for three more points to keep themselves in the play-off spots.

Town could be without captain Matt Wright, who is a serious doubt having picked up an ankle injury on Wednesday night.

Head of football Rob Dray told the County Gazette: “[Gosport] have very accomplished players and an experienced manager [Craig McAllister], but if our players turn up we’re a match for anyone.

“Keeping up our levels of consistency and intensity are key.

“The only negative in playing on Wednesday is that some players may not be able to play at the same intensity on Saturday, but if we need to shuffle the pack, I have 16 players [in the squad] now, so we can do that.

“But there can be no excuses; working hard is a non-negotiable for us.”

Opposition in focus

GOSPORT Borough provide Taunton Town’s next opponents, as the Peacocks travel to Privett Park in Hampshire on Saturday (ko 3pm).

Their hosts reached the FA Trophy final in March 2014, losing 4-0 to Cambridge United at Wembley, and last season they finished 23rd out of 24 teams in the Southern League Premier.

They were spared relegation by the league reshuffle, with only bottom side Dunstable Town dropping out of the division.

This campaign sees Gosport sitting 14th in the Premier Division South standings.

They have five wins, four of those coming at home, where they’ve beaten Metropolitan Police and Poole Town.

Taunton midfielder Matt Buse had a spell at Gosport last season, so can give his team-mates some insight into the opposition, although boss Rob Dray admits that they’ve changed a fair bit since Buse was in their ranks.

Dray added: “We’ve had good reports on them, so we know that they have very accomplished players and an experienced manager.”

The manager in question is Craig McAllister, who took the role of player-manager after an extensive Football League career, which included spells at Exeter City and Crawley Town.

He is assisted by player-coach Matt Tubbs, who also has plenty of experience in the Football League, having played for Bournemouth, Crawley and Portsmouth, among many others.

The Boro’s top scorer this season is Ryan Pennery, who has nine league goals to his name.