WITH Dawlish calling our game off on Thursday night, I decided to travel to the Conigre to watch Melksham Town in their FA Carlsberg Vase clash against Porthleven. It was a good game and Porthleven probably deserved to win, although a draw may have been a slightly fairer result.

Whilst at the game I was asked why I only wrote about Chippenham Town and never really mention the other local clubs. Obviously it is difficult for me to make comments on other clubs' performances but suffice it to say the biggest surprise for me at Melksham was that Robbie Lardner was only a substitute. While I realise Robbie isn't getting any younger, he is still an excellent player and it wasn't until he came on that Melksham looked the better side.

I would like to thank Melksham chairman Mike Perrin for his hospitality at half-time. One observation I did have, however, was that I was surprised that the dug-outs are still so close together after we were told last season they would be moved apart following the fracas in the Boxing Day derby between Melksham and Chippenham.

Tomorrow is another big game for us as we travel to face our biggest rivals in the league, Taunton Town. Taunton are an excellent team. I speak regularly to their manager Russell Musker and while we are both fierce rivals I think we have a mutual respect for each other. Last season our two clubs dominated 95per cent of the headlines and it would be nice if the same thing could happen again this year. We deservedly beat Taunton in the Les Phillips Cup final last season and they will be looking for revenge.

It should be a cracker. My thanks go to the supporters' club for arranging travel for our fans and it should be a great atmosphere in a game we would dearly love to win.

On Saturday a friend of mine Steve Hale (the Larkhall Athletic goalkeeper) travelled to London for me to keep an eye on Barking. They managed another 2-0 win, this time against third in the league Met Police. This was Barking's eighth consecutive win and they will be a very difficult side for us to take on when we meet in the Vase.

On Sunday I was invited to the HTV studios to appear on another show. There was a free bar at the studio and Lee Burns, Shane Andrews and Nathan Rudge were only too keen to sample the free ale. Me, being the true professional, stuck to the mineral water and walked off with a lovely cheque for my troubles. I get on brilliantly with Jed Pitman, the head of sport for HTV, and I know he always reads this column. Thanks for your support Jed and I'm always available if the money is right.

Swindon managed a truly impressive 4-1 win against Ilkeston Town of the Dr Martens League in the FA Cup. Ilkeston played for 45 minutes with just 10 men and how they managed to score must have been the subject of great debate at the Town training ground this week.

Finally, I was saddened to hear that Frank Gregan has left Forest Green Rovers. While it is fair to say we didn't get on famously, I feel he has been extremely hard done by. He is without question the most successful non-league manager in this area within my lifetime. I'm sure he will bounce back shortly with a great job and I wish him all the best in the future.

Good luck to all the local teams this weekend, but there is only one result I am interested in.

Come on you Blues.