SIR Alex Ferguson once said that “attack wins you games, defence wins you titles”.

Should that claim prove true in the Southern League, things are looking good for Taunton Town.

They have scored more goals than their title rivals (just), with 69 to Salisbury’s 68, Weymouth’s 66 and Met Police’s 65.

Perhaps more importantly, their defence is the league’s tightest, conceding only 39 goals in 29 games.

Salisbury have let in 45, Weymouth 43 and Met Police 45.

The top scorers in the league are Harrow Borough, with 71, but they’ve let in 60, so are currently missing out on the final play-off place to Poole Town (conceded 40).

This weekend’s matches illustrated the important of defence quite nicely.

While Taunton were grinding out a 1-0 win at Walton Casuals, their fellow title contenders Met Police and Weymouth were locked in a titanic battle which finished 4-4.

(Not that it was the highest scoring match of the day, as Basingstoke Town smashed Staines 10-3).

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Eight-goal thrillers provide great entertainment for the fans, but few things satisfy a manager like a gritty 1-0 away from home.

With Ben Adelsbury and Keith Emmerson both suspended, Shane White partnered Ed Palmer at the centre of defence, flanked by Pierce Mitchell and Lewis Hall.

Given that they had little possession and played on the counter, it’s of great credit to that back four and the worker bees in front of them that goalkeeper Lloyd Irish had only one serious save to make.

More of the same this Saturday – ideally twinned with Met Police and Salisbury drawing – would take the Peacocks another step closer to that title dream.