PROUD PEACOCKS DANCE TO DRAY
THERE are certainly worse ways to stake your claim for a full-time manager’s job than leading your side to a 5-2 victory over a higher-ranked opponent.
Taunton Town’s emphatic replay success over National League South high-flyers St Albans City on Wednesday night boosted caretaker manager Rob Dray’s hopes of securing the position on a permanent basis and heralded another feather in the cap for a club that have come firing out of the blocks after securing promotion from Step 4 last season.
The Peacocks, who lost former manager Leigh Robin “For son to Truro City last month, sat in second place in the Southern League Premier South ahead of this weekend’s action and now have an FA Cup tie at big spending Billericay Town to look forward to.
“To go into half-time 3-0 up against St Albans and then to score another goal just after the break was all rather surreal!” Dray told The NLP.
“Our first half performance was probably the most complete and impressive half of football that I have ever been in charge of.
“I tried to keep the boys grounded at half time because I was wary that St Albans would come out firing in the second half but I was so proud of every single player.
“We now have an absolutely massive task ahead of us in the next round but it is something that we are going to embrace.
“Billericay have a superb team and are deservedly at the top of the National League South but I know that on our day we can give them a run for their money.
“Some clubs would treat an away game against them as a day out to be enjoyed but we don’t look at it like that, we are determined to try and pull off a result.”
The former Bridgwater Town boss has been in caretaker charge of the Peacocks for just over a month and after winning two of his three league games before yesterday’s clash with Poole Town, Dray admits that he would jump at the opportunity to take the role full-time.
“Of course I would certainly take the permanent job if I was offered it, but I am happy to carry on working on a week-by-week basis as I am now,” said Dray.
“I am really enjoying the experience of managing this club, you can see things moving forward both on and off the pitch.
example, just 12 months ago we were averaging gates of around 250 but we are now getting more like 500 people coming to watch.
“The players that have been brought in over the last two years have made a huge impact and I always felt that if they played to their potential then we could be on course for another successful season this year.
“Things are certainly looking up but nobody is getting carried away.
“I know that it is an old cliché but it rings true. We must continue to take things one game at a time and see what happens.”