TAUNTON TOWN 2 YATE TOWN 1
I AM travelling down to the Isles of Scilly for a week. Naturally, I am on the lookout for a match and notice that Taunton Town are riding high in the Southern League. A win tonight will leapfrog them above Hayes & Yeading to the top of the table, while a win for Yate Town, the visitors, will take them into a play-off place. A finely poised game at a club I’ve wanted to tick off for a long time.
I leave plenty of time for the drive south-westwards and arrive early. I slowly watch as the cars of local staff empty out of the ground and then fills up again with football fans. Seats are provided for car parking stewards, which is a thoughtful touch.
While killing time in the car, I notice I can download a voucher for tonight’s match giving me £2 off the entry fee. I also discover, with horror, that the programme is online. I pay £8 at the gate and check to see if the club issues a few physical copies for early arrivals. “No, it’s all online now.
Quite a few fans are arriving early. I decide to stock up with food before the queues start to mount. There’s a burger van behind the stand at one end of the stadium, as well as a Mexican street food stall and a coffee van. I plump for a double burger. The sports bar looks sparse, no doubt designed for quick service and a hasty getaway at half time on matchdays.
Fixtures and fittings at the Wordsworth Drive Stadium are bedecked in claret and blue. Covered terraces are situated behind each goal with uncovered areas stretch either side of each stand. A long, covered stand with seats runs along the side of the ground where spectators enter and there’s a smaller one the opposite side. Also on this far side is a sports bar and small club shop.
A 15-minute delay is announced because of queues at the turnstile. When the referee finally gets proceedings underway, he indicates a change of ends. Hundreds of Taunton fans stream to the other end.
I am standing in lovely isolation before the whistle but I am soon surrounded by boisterous Peacocks chanting for all their worth. It’s a good atmosphere for this crucial fixture. The first half is a competition to see which big lad can hoof the ball into the darkness of the night higher than the next big lad. It is awful stuff.
After half an hour, something beautiful happens to brighten my night. A curling cross is met by Joe Guest at the back post.
Taunton ease into a two goal lead in the second half but then the Bluebells pull one back with 20 minutes to go. Home fans are very nervous by the end but their team hold on to go top of the League. Me, I head ever southwards for a night kipping in the car. 35(˨0$7&+,1)2 :(/&20( )$&,/,7,(6 )22' &+$50 +20()$16 0$7&+
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