TAUNTON Town FC travel to promotion rivals Evesham United tomorrow (ko 3pm), having prevailed on penalties against Beaconsfield Town in the FA Trophy on Monday night.

After the 1-1 draw at home last Saturday, Taunton fought back to draw Monday’s night’s replay, and the Peacocks won 7-6 on spot-kicks.

Manager Leigh Robinson said: “It was a fantastic backs-to-the-wall performance.

"I have no idea how it went to a replay, or extra time or penalties, because we dominated the tie.

"We kept going, even with some more questionable refereeing in the game.

“It was pleasing to see character and guts, and good attitude from the boys to win more vital prize money, to keep the club ticking along and effectively fund their own wages.”

He also praised 18-year-old centre-back Tom Stone, who came on for the injured Chris McGrath.

"Tom Stone was fantastic," the manager said.

"He's played in Somerset Premier Cup games, but we see those more like friendlies, so he was chucked in at the deep end here.

"But he defended well and was very competitive."

The Peacocks face Concord Rangers of National League South (two tiers above Taunton) in the third round qualifying of the Trophy, at home on November 25.

On that tie, Robinson said: "It's a bit of a free swing for us; if we win, we get more prize money, and if we lose, we can get on with the league.

"But we won't be overawed, as we have plenty of lads in the squad who have played at that level."

This Saturday, though, they’re back in league action, with the league leaders travelling to third-placed Evesham United.

They expect to welcome back Pierce Mitchell after a dead leg, though McGrath and forward Dan Sullivan are both doubts.

Regarding Evesham, Robinson said: “They have a lot of good players, and I think it’s one of our three hardest league games this year [with Salisbury away and Swindon Supermarine away].

"We know that they will come at us hard, to try and catch us up.

“But our away record over the last two-and-a-half seasons has been fantastic, and there’s no ground where I think we can’t win.”

A major threat to Town's 13-game unbeaten record is striker Lewis Powell, who joined Evesham after Robinson could not guarantee him a starting spot at Wordsworth Drive.

"He's scored a lot of goals in this league," said the Taunton boss.

"We know him well from playing against him and with him, so we're looking forward to facing him again."

The Peacocks have also been named as 'October Club of the Month' in the West Division by the Evo-Stik Southern League, having gone unbeaten during that month in league and cup games.