Steve Jupp, BA11's Club Historian, mulls over another tie with our county rivals!
It's derby day once more at Badgers Hill on Saturday when the Robins take on their old foes Paulton Rovers.
Will Taylor's late winner at an Arctic Manor Farm on Tuesday coupled with Cribbs dropping points made it a most profitable evening and they will be looking to maintain that momentum in the pursuit of the leaders.
That game marked the half way point of their league campaign, interestingly with five fewer points than at the same stage a couple of years ago when Plymouth Parkway emerged from the pack with an incredible post-New Year run.
No two seasons are alike and consistency is the name of the game. Without the distraction of any cup matches, Danny Greaves' squad can focus solely on hoovering up as many points as possible over the next three-and-a-bit months.
Top Four Pld Pts
1 Wimborne 19 40
2 Cribbs 18 38
3 Frome 18 37
4 Bideford 18 36
Frome and Paulton have been going at it for one hundred and twenty years and in that time, few if any of their many battles can have been as extraordinary as the encounter at Winterfield Road back in October when the Rovers got back on terms after trailing 2-0 at half-time only for the Robins to blow them away with that stunning late five-goal salvo.
Currently lying in seventeenth place, only basement side Exmouth have conceded more than Paulton but two wins in their last five have kept them clear of the drop zone and their incentive for revenge could not be greater.
Prior to kick-off, there will also be a minute of applause as a mark of respect following the recent tragic passing of Frome Town United coach Sam Oatley. We send our condolences to his family and friends.
Secure your ticket for Saturday by clicking on the link below!
Paulton Rovers have been conceding more goals than the Tories have in election votes, but local derbies are never easy. They came back brilliantly from 2-0 down at their place and looked the likely winners after 80 minutes – the rest is history as they say! Let’s hope this tundraesque weather warms up a bit or we’ll all be huddled around our pasties from the ‘Corner Flag.’
Paulton has a unique footballing history for a small, ex mining village, of some 5,300 inhabitants.
No less than five of their local lads have made professional footballers – which is quite incredible for such a small place. - Danny Bartley (w), Carrie Bourton (cf), Aaron Kuhl (mf / still playing), Jason…