TAUNTON Town head of football Rob Dray says the Peacocks face “four cup finals” from now until the end of the season.

Town were beaten 3-1 by Metropolitan Police on Saturday, bringing to an end an unbeaten home league record which went back to September 26, 2017.

Dray said: “Credit to Met Police, they’re a good side and they did a job on us.

“It [the home record] was a fantastic achievement, but all things must come to an end.

“We have four cup finals now, and we can’t sulk or feel sorry for ourselves.”

The Peacocks have four league matches left, starting at home to fifth-placed Kings Langley this Saturday (ko 3pm).

On-loan Bristol Rovers midfielder Lucas Tomlinson is set to come into the Town squad, in place of dual-registered Shane Krac, who returns to Plymouth Parkway.

Now third in the table, one point behind Met Police and eight off leaders Weymouth, Dray wants a strong finish to the campaign ahead of a likely spot in the play-offs.

“We will aim to put as much pressure as possible on Weymouth, and we will plan for every eventuality.”

Opposition in focus

THE 2018/19 season was but a week old when Taunton Town played Kings Langley in their third game of the campaign way back in sunny August.

Goals from Ben Adelsbury and Ryan Brett saw the Peacocks come away from Gaywood Park with a 2-1 victory, but a lot has changed since then... for both sides, Rob Dray replacing Leigh Robinson in the Taunton dugout for one thing.

Kings made a truly shocking start to the season – perhaps a hangover from the season before which saw them finish 21st out of 24 teams in the Southern Premier Division – as they lost their first three league games, and only won two of their first 11.

But Steve Conroy’s side turned it around in some style, winning 11 from 15 between November 10 and January 29.

That run included a 2-1 home win against likely champions Weymouth, against whom they also secured a 2-2 away draw in the reverse fixture.

They’ve had six wins and three defeats in their last nine matches, the last of those a 2-1 home loss to Swindon Supermarine last Saturday.

That form has been enough to put them in the driving seat for the final promotion play-off place, with a three-point advantage over sixth-placed Poole Town.

They’re nine points shy of Salisbury in fourth, though, so holding onto fifth spot over the final four games of the season looks to be the name of the game for them.

Jermaine Howe and Stephen Ward have two goals apiece in their last four games – Ward’s being late winners against Hartley Wintney and Tiverton Town.

Elsewhere this weekend

STAPLEGROVE have a big game on Saturday as they travel to Minehead in the Premier & Division 1 Cup semi-final (3pm).

The Premier Division hosts are favourites, but Grove are in good form and have won their last two league matches.

Wellington AFC play their final home match of the Toolstation Western League Premier Division season as they welcome Bridport on Saturday in a battle between two mid-table sides.

Bishops Lydeard are also at home in Division One, with Sherborne Town the visitors.