Police clash will be tough for us – Dray

TAUNTON’S away match against the Metropolitan Police in the Southern League Premier Division South today brings together two sides that finished in the top three last season.

Both teams were involved in the end-of-season promotion play-offs, with the Police getting further than Taunton, losing 2-1 in the Super Play-off final against Isthmian League Tonbridge.

Since then, the Police have lost a couple of their best players and they go into today’s game against Taunton having lost all four of their home matches this term.

Taunton lost both of their matches against the Police last season, and boss Rob Dray said: “It’s a long journey for us and a tough place to go.”

Defender Ed Palmer is set to return to Taunton’s squad, having missed the FA Cup tie last weekend in which the Somerset side lost 2-1 at Havant & Waterlooville.

It was Taunton’s fifth game in 14 days and Dray has been critical of such a schedule.

Defenders Ben Adelsbury, Jamie Price and Nick Grimes are all hoping to have recovered from knocks for Taunton, whose loss at Havant was their first in nine games. Grimes has not enjoyed the best of times since his recent move to Taunton, having been sent off twice, with one rescinded, and he is now struggling with a knee injury.

Yate, meanwhile, have suffered a torrid start to life in the Premier South and go into today’s match away to leaders Chesham second from bottom of the table.

Having given the players who earned promotion last season a chance to impress, manager Paul Britton, pictured, is now making changes and hard on the heels of signing Cheltenham defender Grant Thornton on loan he looks poised to unveil more new faces.

“I am hoping to tie up two loan deals from Bristol City,” Britton said. “We are trying a few different things, but moving from Division One South to Premier South has proved to be a big step.”

Elsewhere in the Premier South, Weston-super-Mare play away to Wimborne, Salisbury host Hartley Wintney, and Swindon Supermarine visit Dorchester.

Bristol Manor Farm will look to build on last week’s FA Cup win at Tiverton when they play Moneyfields in the FA Trophy.