Taunton Town kept their title hopes alive thanks to a stunning comeback against Merthyr Town at the Viridor Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday.
The Peacocks hit back from two goals down with 20 minutes left to steal a 3-2 win against their visitors from Wales, while EvoStik Southern League leaders Weymouth drew 1-1 at Poole Town.
Only one point separates Weymouth and Taunton in the Southern League with one fixture to play – and only one automatic promotion place available.
Merthyr are safely in mid-table, but they will face a Walton Casuals team breathing fire at the MetCoaches Community Stadium next Saturday (3pm).
Casuals, Frome and Staines are the bottom three and all face a drop into the division below, but Walton have given themselves hope.
They won 1-0 against Kings Stanley at home thanks to a 42nd minute James Ewington goal and they go into their last match of the season at Merthyr knowing a win could yet save them.
Hendon are one point ahead of Casuals and daren’t lose against Swindon Supermarine at home. If that happens even a draw at Merthyr could keep Casuals up.
Merthyr drew 0-0 at home against Farnborough Town on Saturday in front of 421 spectators before heading to Taunton for a tough clash with the title contenders.
Ian Traylor and Jamie Veale scored second half goals to put the Martyrs on top, but Taunton clawed their way back and midfield player Matt Buse eventually netted a 91st minute winner.
Martyrs manager Gavin Williams has already committed to the club until the end of next and has plans in place for a 2019-20 promotion push to the National League.
Traylor struck the first Merthyr goal at Taunton, tapping in at the far post just before the hour. Veale then smashed a shot into the top corner eight minutes later.
Taunton were devastated, but they hit back with goals from Rocky Neal (70 mins), Dan Sullivan (73) and Buse (91).
Bank Holiday Monday fixture:
Teams, Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Pierce Mitchell, Lewis Hall, Shane White, Ed Palmer, Matt Buse, Josh Nelmes, Ryan Brett, Matt Wright (capt), Dan Sullivan, Rocky Neal. Subs: Craig Veal, Ollie Chamberlain, Luke Manley, Keith Emerson, Chandler Hallett.
Taunton Town: Scott Reed, Adam Davies, Jay Foulston, Matthew Harris, Kieran Lewis, Corey Jenkins, Ashley Evans, Jamie Veale, Ian Traylor, Tom Meecham, Owain Jones. Subs: Ryan Prosser, Kerry Morgan, Lee Lucas, Ben Swallow.
Attendance: 801.
Awesome afternoon at the Virador today. @TauntonTownFC showed real character to come back from two down. Fingers crossed for the final game #UpThePeacocks #Taunton pic.twitter.com/T7pV15diG9
— Paul Elliot Smith (@_wordgetsaround) April 22, 2019
Saturday fixture: Merthyr Town 0, Farnborough 0
Team, Merthyr Town: Scott Reed, Ben Swallow, Connor Young, Jarrad Wright, Kerry Morgan (Adam Davies), Ashley Evans (capt), Kieran Lewis, Ian Traylor, Ryan Prosser, Owain Jones (Tom Meechan). Substitutes: Lee Lucas, Jay Foulston, Corey Jenkins.
Remaining Merthyr Town fixture this season:
Saturday 27 v Walton Casuals H (3pm)
LEAGUE TABLE: EVO-STIK LEAGUE SOUTH PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH – 2018/2019
| Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | -Pts | Pts | |
| Weymouth | 41 | 24 | 11 | 6 | 93 | 51 | 42 | – | 83 | |
| Taunton Town | 41 | 25 | 7 | 9 | 87 | 55 | 32 | – | 82 | |
| Salisbury | 41 | 22 | 11 | 8 | 97 | 63 | 34 | – | 77 | |
| Metropolitan Police | 41 | 22 | 11 | 8 | 89 | 62 | 27 | – | 77 | |
| Poole Town | 41 | 19 | 10 | 12 | 77 | 59 | 18 | – | 67 | |
| Kings Langley | 41 | 20 | 6 | 15 | 63 | 61 | 2 | – | 66 | |
| Farnborough | 41 | 18 | 8 | 15 | 72 | 69 | 3 | – | 62 | |
| Harrow Borough | 41 | 17 | 9 | 15 | 91 | 77 | 14 | – | 60 | |
| Hartley Wintney | 41 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 79 | 69 | 10 | – | 60 | |
| Swindon Supermarine | 41 | 16 | 10 | 15 | 70 | 58 | 12 | – | 58 | |
| Chesham United | 41 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 54 | 55 | -1 | – | 58 | |
| Beaconsfield Town | 41 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 64 | 64 | 0 | – | 57 | |
| Merthyr Town | 41 | 15 | 9 | 17 | 67 | 65 | 2 | – | 54 | |
| Dorchester Town | 41 | 14 | 10 | 17 | 66 | 72 | -6 | – | 52 | |
| Wimborne Town | 41 | 15 | 6 | 20 | 72 | 75 | -3 | – | 51 | |
| Tiverton Town | 41 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 64 | 74 | -10 | – | 50 | |
| Basingstoke Town | 41 | 14 | 7 | 20 | 80 | 80 | 0 | – | 49 | |
| Gosport Borough | 41 | 15 | 4 | 22 | 61 | 68 | -7 | – | 49 | |
| Hendon | 41 | 13 | 10 | 18 | 63 | 74 | -11 | – | 49 | |
| Walton Casuals | 41 | 13 | 9 | 19 | 67 | 77 | -10 | – | 48 | |
| Frome Town | 41 | 11 | 4 | 26 | 45 | 72 | -27 | – | 37 | |
| Staines Town | 41 | 4 | – | 37 | 40 | 161 | -121 | – | 12 | |
