LOUIS Langdown leads his AFC Totton side to Taunton Town on Saturday still haunted by memories of last season’s trip to The Viridor Stadium.

The Stags’ 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Peacocks stands out as one of his worst experiences in ten months as manager of the Evo-Stik South West club.

“Taunton is up there with Hereford (also 5-0) for me in terms of the disappointments I've had as a manager here,” he confessed.

“We went there and got beaten 5-0 and were totally steamrollered.

“That sticks with me, it irks me.

“It wasn’t really a performance that warranted a 5-0 loss and it was hard to take. The journey home was horrible.

“So we need to put in a decent performance this time around worthy of the current team.”

One good thing to come out of that trip was a promising debut off the bench for exciting loan winger Curtis Young, now a permanent fixture for the Stags following his release from AFC Bournemouth.

The 18-year-old lit up the Total Branding Community Stadium last Saturday, scoring two absolute belters in a 5-0 win over Yate.

“Sometimes Curtis is out of the game quite a bit, then all of a sudden he comes alive.

"As a wide player you can sort of accept that, but you need some quality at the end of it and Curtis delivers that end product,” said Langdown.

“He’s got countless assists already this year and he’s on five goals from eight games. He's got an opportunity that kid, there is no doubt about it.”

Taunton, beaten play-off semi-finalists last season, are right up amongst it again, second only on goal difference to early-season pace-setters Bristol Manor Farm.

They will be tough opponents and the sobering news for sixth-placed Totton is that they must return to the Somerset stronghold next month in the FA Trophy preliminary round (October 7).

“We’ll love that!” smiled Langdown. “But hey, we’ll go there in good spirits tomorrow and do everything we can to get a result.”

Defenders Pip Nolan (dead leg) and Callum Chugg (suspension) are back in the Totton squad, but Stuart Mott has returned to Army duties and Langdown is hopeful of making a new defensive signing shortly.

Taunton, meanwhile, have lost dangerman Lewis Powell.

Manager Leigh Robinson said: “He is definitely leaving, we’re just not sure where (he will go).

“He refused to play last Saturday, saying he was not in the right frame of mind.”

Town have already secured a replacement, with striker Omar Simpson arriving from Paulton Rovers.

Robinson, whose side drew 2-2 at Kidlington last weekend, said of Totton’s visit: “It will be a tough game as they’re much improved from last year.

“They’re a young and energetic side, so we need to press our home advantage.

“Away draws are fine, but only if you follow up by winning at home.”