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FOOTBALL: Marsh back to lift Taunton at home to Bishops Cleeve

8:00am Friday 27th January 2012

Taunton Town welcome back Rodney Marsh and Peter Knox for tomorrow's Evo-Stik League encounter with Bishops Cleeve at Wordsworth Drive.

Marsh returns after serving a three game suspension while striker Knox should also be available, although his selection will depend on his recovery from the hamstring injury that forced his early withdrawal from the game against Tiverton a fortnight ago.

Knox’s appearances are restricted due to his work as a prison officer in Yorkshire, but he is awaiting a transfer back to the West Country and could be available on a more regular basis in the future.

Home town player Marsh has no such geographical obstacles, and his return to Saturday’s squad is keenly anticipated by manager Paul West.

West said: “In my opinion Rodney is one of the best players in our league, and it’s a massive bonus to have him back.

"We are not the same team without him and it is no coincidence that when he was injured last season, we fell by the wayside.” Marsh has also suffered injury problems this campaign and underwent an operation in the autumn, meaning he has amassed only eight league appearances but has still scored six goals.

Town will be out to avenge the 2-1 defeat they suffered against mid-table Bishops Cleeve back in August.

West continued: ”Against Abingdon we were disappointing in the first half but much better in the second.

"If we had kept eleven players on the pitch, I have no doubt we would have gone on to win the game.

"Discipline has cost us again and the players have got to learn. Saying that, I thought we showed good character to get something out the game after going behind.

"We still have 14 League matches to play and we are also in the quarter finals of the Somerset Premier Cup so there’s a lot left to play for.”

The attendance for the match with Abingdon was Taunton’s lowest of the season but the club are making efforts to try to attract the floating fan.

Club Secretary Andy Power said:” Although Saturday’s gate was disappointing, we still have the sixth best average attendance in our division.

"Ultimately it is results and performances on the pitch that are the major influence on crowd size but the club are always considering other incentives to get more people to watch.

"There will be a voucher in next week’s Gazette offering half price adult admission and free entry to Under-18s for one of the following two home games, and another offer will appear before the season finishes.”

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