Steve Jupp, BA11's Club Historian, previews a Somerset derby on New Year's Day.
Less than one month ago, Frome Town found themselves in the seemingly hopeless position of being TEN points adrift of the safety spot of bottom-but-four. Despite Saturday’s hiccup at Bracknell, that gap has now been slashed to just THREE as they endeavour to close it further in their New Year’s Day Somerset showdown at Taunton.
The Peacocks themselves have had a fabulous festive period, taking maximum points from three fixtures in the space of a week, rising rapidly up to eighth place in the process when they had been just a couple of points above the drop zone.
When the sides met at Badgers Hill back in August, goals from David Duru and Owen Brain gave the visitors a 2-0 triumph, their first win of the campaign, and few Frome fans then would have envisaged having to wait over three months for a three-point haul of their own.
Robins v Peacocks in the Southern League:
Season Division Home Away
2009-10 One S & W W 2 – 1 W 3 – 0
2010-11 One S & W D 0 – 0 L 0 – 1
2018-19 Prem South W 2 – 0 L 0 – 3
2024-25 Prem South L 0 – 2
The Scarlet Runners looked a little exposed at times at Bracknell with a makeshift defence but with the return of a couple of backline stalwarts, they will be looking to add to December’s impressive run of FOUR clean sheets in a row, a feat they were unable to achieve during the entirety of last season’s promotion push.
A Bank Holiday Somerset derby between two in-form teams could well attract a four-figure crowd to Wordsworth Drive, it remains to be seen who will end up with ruffled feathers and who will carry off county bragging rights.
The latest information on ticketing according to Taunton's website is as follows:
Standard - £14.00
Concession (Pensioners and Students)- £11.00
U16s - £5.00
U6s - Free with a paying adult
Listen to the latest episode of the Dodge The Question podcast!
This week Steve & Zeb chat to George Rigg with guest, Ryan Atkins
You can also listen on Frome.FM radio every Friday at 5pm (repeated on Saturday 3pm)
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Agree with The Jupster - I also feel we need our strongest defence out today. Taunton will be favourites for sure, having already won 2-0 in a tight game at The Hill earlier this season, where perhaps they showed just a little more know how when it mattered.
It looks like rain is the order of the day but the high winds are forecast to cease well before kick off.
A point here would be good and a decent start to 2025.
G