Taylor stakes a first-team claim

Matt Taylor in action for Potters Bar against Royston. Picture: Danny Loo (Image: Archant)

Taylor was integral in Monday’s 4-2 win over AFC Totton, playing a pivotal role in Jamal Lowe’s goal, the first of the game, and being part of an interchangeable midfield that won the possession battle.

With the likes of James Comley, Richard Graham, Ram Marwa, David Keenleyside and Danny Green ahead of him in the midfield pecking order, opportunities for the 18-year-old have been limited. However, performances like the one on Monday could see him get more chances to showcase his talents.

“We brought him in [on Monday] because we wanted goals from midfield,” Golds told the Herts Ad.

“We wanted someone to break from midfield and support the front men; Matt can do that, he’s good at that and he did it against Totton. And when we broke down the wings, we had an extra man in the box.”

While Taylor has always had those traits, Golds pointed to his two-month loan spell at Calor Central side Potters Bar as the main reason for his improved play.

Taylor returned from loan at the beginning of January and has since made two substitute appearances, against Frome Town and Chippenham Town, and one start, against AFC Totton.

James Gray, Golds’ management partner, also noted a change in Taylor saying he is more physical since coming back to Clarence Park.

“He lost his way early on in the season, which is why we sent him out on loan to Potters Bar: to get game time. It did him the world of good,” Golds explained.

“We know what we have got with Matt. I said to him before Monday’s game that he could stake a claim for us week in week out with a good performance and he did that.”

Speaking today (Wednesday), Golds could not confirm whether Taylor would be in Saturday’s starting line-up against St Neots Town but he did say fans would “definitely” be seeing more of the teenager in the coming months.