Where to go today? (25 April)

It was all happening at the foot of the Southern League Div 1 (S&W) today. On arriving at Taunton I heard confirmation that Winchester had been docked 3 pts yesterday for fielding an ineligible player. What a bloody cock-up with just one game to play! They've put in an appeal but the Taunton verdict - delivered free of bias I'm sure - is guilty as charged, m'lud. Something about forged signatures I hear.

As for today's game, the first half - played on a dustbowl in a high wind - was of dire quality and even worse entertainment value. Taunton went in one up thanks to Alexis Piper bundling the ball over the line after an good old-fashioned charge on the 'keeper. Nobody expected the ref to allow the goal but he did. All very well until the news came through that Winchester were winning at Windsor & Eton as were Bracknell at Cinderford.

The second half was better and Taunton got their second goal at precisely the right time. Meanwhile Winchester were being pegged back before going ahead again. Then Taunton quickly scored a third so that suddenly goal difference became of significance should Bracknell fail to win.

And, in the event, Bracknell duly surrended a 2-1 lead to lose 2-3 as Taunton held on to win 3-0. By the latter stages Burnham, Taunton's opponents, were in no mood to attempt to throw spanners in works or upset applecarts.

Enough then for Taunton to survive and make 161 people extremely happy for at least five minutes before they started to ponder the likely awfulness of next season. As for myself, what with listening out for the Exeter score - and Bury's - I've now warmed up nicely for tomorrow's anticipated travails and turmoil.

The final table subject - as they say - to Winchester's appeal:

Taunton Town 42 (-35) 36
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Bracknell Town 42 (-36) 35
Winchester City* 42 (-37) 35

* 3 points deducted for fielding an ineligible player