TAUNTON Town are bidding to reach the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time since the 2016/17 season, as they take on Tonbridge Angels tomorrow (3pm).

The Peacocks’ fourth round qualifying opponents play one level above them in the English football pyramid, having gained promotion to National League South in 2018/19.

Taunton travel to Kent without any supporters, however, as Tonbridge’s Step 2 status means that no fans can be admitted to the ground.

Peacocks supporters can purchase a ticket to watch a live stream of the match (at a cost of £7.50) here.

Taunton head of football Rob Dray told the County Gazette: “We’re disappointed not to be taking our fans up with us.

“But I think it [the lack of any supporters in the ground] might impact them more than us.

“We’ve settled into a bit of a routine and adapted to things, even though the group has only been together for a short amount of time.”

Dray has a full squad to select from, and he added: “We’ve done a lot of research [on Tonbridge], and I think we have a good chance.

“They’re quite a big side, they’re physical and experienced, they have pace out wide and a powerful lad up front.

“They’re the next level up, but with the players we have, we can catch sides at that level.”

He added: “We’re going up on Friday night and staying in Woking.

"The club has been brilliant in helping us prepare and giving us the best chance.”

The winning side tomorrow will collect £9,375 from the FA Cup prize fund, while the losers pick up £3,125.

Tonbridge are currently 13th in the National League South standings, with one win and two defeats so far.

They were 2-0 winners away to Billericay Town in their league opener - with Khale Da Costa and Tom Beere scoring their goals - but since then they've been beaten by Hungerford Town (2-0) and Oxford City (4-0).

The Peacocks will be hoping for a better result than when they visited Tonbridge for a Southern League Division 1 South fixture on March 31, 1979.

The home side won 2-1, despite Steve Summers having put the visitors from Somerset ahead from the penalty spot.

The Taunton line-up that day was as follows: Brian McAuley, Roger Coombs, Graham Smith, Jeff Sherwood, Terry Edwards, Terry Buxton, Tony Payne, Dave Singleton, Eddie Aherne, Steve Millard, Steve Summers (sub: Brian Burden).