Tiverton Town v Frome Town
The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium
Saturday March 8th 3pm Kick Off.
At the weekend The Yellows will lock horns with fellow strugglers Frome and such is the enormity of the outcome of this match, that anything other than a victory for Tiverton, will make things extremely difficult in their battle to stay up.
Although Tiverton hold a one point advantage over the Somerset side, they have also played two games more. We can no longer rely on favours from other teams, it's in our hands to secure our own future.
A spirited performance with no shortage of quality too, made Tuesday night’s draw against play off chasing Havant & Waterlooville, seem like an encouraging sign.
Casting on eye over how Frome have fared since the turn of the year, tells us that they have only lost two games since December ended, drawn six and won two, in the ten games they’ve played. However, It was a four game winning run in December that began the transformation, following a poor start to the campaign.
The Robins’ mirroring our result at Poole, in winning 1-0 in early February are a better side than the team we beat 2-1 in the reverse fixture, back in September. That win was our first of the season.
The Yellows’ are still without Captain Matt Britton and fellow midfielder Gabe Billington and will wait on their fitness before a final decision is made on naming the Matchday squad, by Asa Hall and his Assistant Steve Orchard.
Marcus Day comes up against his former club on Saturday and will be in contention for a starting place, as Tiverton look to do the double over Frome and keep in touch with the team’s above them in the relegation picture.
Manager Danny Greaves has been at Frome since 2018 and returned his team to this division after winning promotion last term. He has had to show plenty of resilience this season as at the start of December after 17 games, his side had only taken 8 points.
Curtis Jemmet-Hutson the lively ex Merthyr Forward has been a mainstay of Greaves’s squad this term. The pacy Jemmet-Hutson is a strong performer at this level and was at Redditch earlier on in his senior career.
Archie Ferris who began the season with Taunton is a striker that was brought in by Greaves when The Robins were going through their sticky patch. The Frontman was prolific in the 23/24 season, with Division 1 Larkhall Athletic.
Ex Bath City winger James Ollis is in his Fifth season at Badger’s Hill and the attacking player is a firm fan favourite. The goal scoring Ollis has 65 goals to his name whilst at Frome. Previous clubs also include; Yate, Mangotsfield and Thatcham.
Talented Midfielder, Rex Mannings spent last season at Weston Super Mare where he played 33 League games. Signing for Fellow National South side Chippenham this term, but joining the Robins a couple of months into the campaign. Manning’s was at Frome for 3 seasons, earlier in his football journey and Bath City.
Pretty much a permanent fixture at Frome this season has been Albie Hopkins. The 25 year old midfielder has chipped in with a fair few goals. Professionally contracted to Oxford United at the beginning of his senior career, the ex Melksham man also played for Rushden & Diamonds and Oxford City.
Goalkeeper Kyle Phillips has been with Frome through the past eight campaigns, establishing himself as the regular number one at the club. Experienced and a very good shot stopper. Prior to that he played for Mangotsfield and Paulton Rovers.
Full Backs Joe O’Loughlin and Pierce Mitchell both had spells with the Yellows. O’Loughlin began the 22/23 season with us, before returning to Frome and former Taunton Defender Mitchell was with us during the 2019/20 season. The ex Bristol Rovers academy player was also at Supermarine, Yate and Weston Super Mare.
Tiverton will be hoping to build on that promising start on Tuesday night under the guidance of Asa Hall and Steve Orchard. All Yellows near and far will be watching on, as we look for an all important victory when the final whistle blows.