Bashley (a) & Westbury United (a): Previews and Ticket Info

Steve Jupp, BA11's Club Historian, looks ahead to the action on a busy Bank Holiday weekend.

It’s a Bank Holiday weekend away-day double-header for the high-flying Robins as they bid to extend their 100% start to the season and their credentials will be severely tested with a return to Bashley on Saturday swiftly followed by derby delights just over the border at Westbury.

Local boy Albie Hopkins has two goals to his name in the three competitive fixtures so far in 25-26

Just over a week ago, Danny Greaves’ charges produced their best performance of the three so far in recovering from a goal down to take the points at the Veho Community Stadium but this time it’s an FA Trophy run at stake and an away tie at Winchester in the next round.

Ironically for the Bash, they’ve just gone toe-to-toe with the Citizens TWICE in the space of four days, bowing out of the FA Cup by the only goal in a closely fought Tuesday night replay.

Frome’s only previous Trophy visit to this now very familiar ground occurred as recently as three years ago and it was a nightmare night that went downhill from virtually the very first whistle.

The death of Queen Elizabeth caused all football to be suspended on the original Saturday of the tie and with many players unavailable for a hastily rearranged midweek encounter, a threadbare and patched-up team found themselves three-down with barely ten minutes on the clock and by half-time it was four.

Luke Hopper’s late penalty was scant consolation on an instantly forgettable evening so fingers crossed the tables can be turned at a venue where visiting teams have to be at their best to get a result.

No extra time or replays in this one, penalties will decide if it’s all square after ninety minutes.

With just forty-eight hours to recover, it’s the briefest of excursions into Wiltshire and it feels strange not to be going to Meadow Lane on a cool Friday night.

Westbury themselves have made a fabulous start to the campaign with FOUR straight wins, conceding one solitary goal in the process. They include a smattering of familiar faces in their squad, among them Ben Starr, Will Taylor and of course Jack Witcombe who seems to be picking up man-of-the-match awards for fun of late.

Southern League encounters - Frome Town vs. Westbury United

Season Home Away

2022-23 W 3 – 0 L 0 – 1

2023-24 W 3 – 1 W 3 – 2

Dodge devotees will recall fondly their last visit to the home of the White Horse Men, triumphing from two down in the most dramatic of circumstances, that Jono free kick sparking joyous mayhem and one of those ‘I was there moments’.

Bashley (a) & Westbury United (a): Previews and Ticket Info

In just ten years, Westbury have come a long way from rock bottom of Western League Division One to an established, streetwise Southern League outfit and a packed Platinum Hyundai Park on Bank Holiday Monday will relish a special derby rarely played over the years.

Two tough tests for the Scarlet Runners…will they be in holiday mood come Monday evening?

Squad Update

Centre-back Mike Baker is set to miss out after a slight setback following his return from a calf strain. Sam Heal is suspended after his red card in the FA Cup.

Midfielder Theo Llewellyn will return to the squad after being unavailable against Newquay, and defender Harry Lucas will be given a late fitness test to determine whether he is ready to feature after missing out last weekend.

Quotes

On the latest episode of the Dodge the Question podcast, Steve McCarthy and Zeb Baker-Smith said: "Bashley on Saturday again in the FA Trophy, once again at theirs. I think they're going to have to go to the drawing board a bit, but obviously Frome can't rest on our laurels. You know, the FA Trophy has been pretty kind to us in terms of that run to the Third Round in 23-24 and the match against Torquay.

"It would be great to progress, not only financially, but it does give a bit of a buzz, right? When you're doing well in the cups. You look back at last season - obviously the Cup and the Trophy weren't our priorities, staying up was - but it was deflating the loss to Larkhall, one of the real low points of the season. So it's always a nice boost to go a few rounds deeper into the cup competitions."

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Ahead of the Bashley tie, the latest information on ticketing, which can be bought in advance or on the gate, is as follows:

Adults - £12

Concessions (OAPs and Students) - £8

Under 16s - £5

Under 11s - FREE

Westbury United have informed us of the following prices for Monday's game:

Adults - £12

Concessions - £9

Under 18s - £2

Under 12s - FREE

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Check out our 25-26 Season Guide!

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Listen to the latest episode of the Dodge The Question podcast!

Steve & Zeb review the recent Bashley and Newquay games.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4YTjjXI4Msn2bA7424Bszv?si=a30cd0a0fb204f23

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s02-e08/id1751186747?i=1000722630005

You can also listen on Frome.FM radio every Friday at 5pm (repeated on Saturday 3pm)

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Secure your entry, purchase your season tickets and make the most of the sponsorship and hospitality packages for all of our games at Badgers Hill this season via the link below!

https://www.intix.co.uk/org/frome-town-fc