Taunton and Salisbury in contention

TAUNTON will attempt to keep up the pressure at the top of the Southern League Premier South when they play away to Gosport Borough this afternoon.

The Somerset side, who moved up to second spot after beating Walton Casuals 4-0 at home on Wednesday, are now only one point behind leaders Weymouth, but have played one more game.

Taunton’s head of football Rob Dray said: “Gosport have very accomplished players and an experienced manager in Craig McAllister. But if our players turn up we’re a match for anyone.

“Keeping up our levels of consistency and intensity are key. The only negative in playing on Wednesday is that some players may not be able to play at the same intensity on Saturday. But if we need to shuffle the pack, I have 16 players in the first team squad, so we can do that.”

Gosport finished 23rd out of 24 sides in the division last season but were spared relegation by the league’s reshuffle, which resulted in only bottom side Dunstable dropping down. This season they are sitting in 14th position, 13 points behind Taunton.

Salisbury currently lie in third, two points behind Taunton with a game in hand, and they will hope to collect another three points this afternoon when they play at home to Hartley Wintney.

The visitors could be a tough nut to crack, though, having lost only three times so far this term.

Frome, meanwhile, are away to the Metropolitan Police, and they will hope the hosts will suffer some sort of hangover after they were playing in the first round proper of the FA Cup last week.

Fourth-from-bottom Swindon Supermarine will attempt to pull away from the drop zone when they take on visiting Harrow Borough.