Match Preview: Tavistock AFC vs Frome Town

Last return to home action for first time in over a month as they welcome table toppers Frome Town to Langsford park!!

By Luca Sperti

Tavistock were last in action as they took the trip to Gloucestershire to take on an inform Malvern Town. Despite the Hillsiders being on top in the first-half it was all square going into the break with the Lambs remaining defensively strong. Infact the Lambs nearly went into the break one goal ahead after Jacob Bowker got past his marker and smashed a powerful shot which was saved well by Josh Bishop. Only a minute into the second-half the home side eventually made their pressure count and took the lead. A ball over the Lambs backline fell to Harry Clark, who took his time before slotting the ball past Jack Arthur. However this lead only last sixty seconds with the Lambs equalising almost immediately after a ball was floated over Bishop and headed by Bowker at the back post. In the 52nd minute the hosts reinstated their lead after a ball from Levi Francis found former Exeter City forward Ryan Brunt. The striker took a touch on his chest before curling an effort into the far corner for his second in as many games. The home side added a third 75 minutes in after a cross from sub Ben Hayes was flicked by a Tavi man before being amazingly saved by Arthur. However unfortunately for the former Tiverton goalkeeper the ball fell to Clark who tapped the ball home from close range for his brace. Four minutes later it was four with sub Pierce Walton finding the net after a cross by the impressive Clark. In the 94th minute the hosts got a fifth after an impressive run by debutant Yuri Quintas was finished of by Walton for his second of the day.

Frome were last in action on Wednesday evening as they defeated Swindon Supermarine at Badges Hill. The result which saw Danny Greaves side go top of the table. In the 20th minute the on-top visitors took the lead after a cross from Albie Hopkins was flicked on by Archie Ferris who took a touch before poking the ball home for his 9th of the league season. In the 38th minute the hosts grabbed a second after another cross from Hopkins was bundled home boy the experienced Warren Maidment. In the 87th minute despite being second best, the away side from Swindon had a lifeline after Josh Blyth flicked home a curling header. Marine goal gave them confidence with the Blue and White side looking for a equaliser. However in the 94th minute, the away side were left open with the Somerset side grabbing a third. Former Supermarine man George Dowling lob the ball over Luke Purnell whose effort smashed of the bar, however Zak Drew reacted quickest to tap the ball home from close range.

Saturdays visitors currently occupy top of the table after 15 wins, three draws and two defeats from their opening 20 games. The Robins despite not scoring the most in the league have conceded only 12 goals so far this term, which is the least in the league. The Somerset side also have won the most away games this season in the league in 7. The Red and White donning side have picked up more points away from home than the Lambs have in the league. Stuart Henderson side remain bottom of the table with three wins, one draw and 14 defeats from their opening 18 games. The Lambs are eighth points from safety, however the Lambs have played the least out of any side in the bottom four. The Lambs both wins at home this season have warranted in 1-0 wins, something I’m sure they will be looking to achieve in this clash.

The last match between these two sides occurred on the opening day ofd this season, with the Robins coming out 3-0 winners. n the 30th minute Frome took the lead and what a goal it was. Former Melksham man Hopkins made his way into the middle of the park before cutting the ball past Rhys Lindsell and Ethan Wright and smashing an effort from 30-yards. The former Oxford City man’s effort sailed into the top right-corner leaving Will Howard with no chance in the Lambs net. In the 54th minute a big save by the feet of Howard prevented it from being 2-0 after the goalkeeper made a terrific save from a Sam Heal effort. In the 66th minute the lively David Duru hit the crossbar from close range after a cross from the right by the impressive Hopkins. In the 71st minute nice holdup play by Heal saw the fullback send a ball into the box, with the left-backs cross met perfectly by the head of Ferris. The forward flicked the ball home to double the Robins advantage. Four minutes later and another cross from Heal found Drew free at the back post with the attacker finish finding the bottom corner make it three to the hosts. In the 79th minute the Lambs came close to pulling a goal back after a cross from the left by Jack Crago found Ben Fowles in the middle, whose header flicked on top of the bar before being cleared by the hosts. In the 88th minute the hosts were awarded a penalty with Hopkins stepping up and his penalty being expertly saved by Howard, with the follow up by Ferris also being saved by the keeper. The last match between these two sides before this season occurred at Badgers Hill back in February of 2024 with the Robins coming out 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Pierce Mitchell, current Taunton forward Roy Simpson and Sam Meakes. Current Tiverton forward added a late consolation for the Lambs, but on the day the Robins came out on top on a difficult surface. This wasn’t the case only a month before with the Lambs coming out 6-2 winners in the reverse fixture. On a freezing Wednesday night at Langsford Park, Tavistock came out 6-2 winners against Frome Town thanks to four-goals from current Norwich City forward Dylan Jones and a brace from current Mousehole man Liam Prynn. Goals for Frome by Zac Drew and William Taylor only soften the defeat for the Robins on that day. Frome could not deal with the high Tavi press on the day as Jones was a constant threat on the shoulder which is where all of his four goals came from in the match. 

Frome Town Key Players:

Zac Drew: The attacking-midfielder, has had an impressive season scoring and impressive eight goals as well as four assists. Frome’s number 10 started his career at Bath City in the 17/18 season where he made one appearance, coming off the bench in the 83rd minute against Cheddar AFC in the Somerset Premier Cup. The Youngster then moved to Cinderford Town, where he made 10 appearances in the 20/21 season scoring an impressive six goals from midfield which included braces against Moneyfields and Barnstaple Town. The next season at Cinderford saw Drew play 31 games and score 16 goals. These goals included a hat-trick against the aforementioned Barnstaple Town in a 3-2 home win for Cinderford. Drew’s excellent form at Cinderford, saw the youngster earn a move to Yate Town ahead of the 22/23. Drew made 39 appearances for, at the time Southern Premier Division South Side, Yate scoring seven goals in the process including goals against the likes of Tiverton Town and Truro City. At the end of the 22/23 season, Drew dropped down a division moving to Frome Town in hopes of more game time. The attacker made nine appearances at Frome in 22/23, scoring once against his former club Cinderford Town. The 23/24 season saw Drew really establish himself in Danny Greave’s side with the attacker making 47 appearances in all competitions as well as getting seven goals in the process. These goals including strikes against Melksham, Paulton Rovers and the Lambs in the 6-2 victory for Tavi at Langford Park. Drew struggled last season on the wing and in midfield in Step Three due to the Robins having very little possession in the division. In total the attacker made 36 appearances in 24/25 scoring once in a 1-3 victory at fellow relegated outfit Winchester City. However back at Step Four Drew has been excellent and he will be one to look out for in this clash.

Archie Ferris- A strong and powerful striker, who has scored an impressive 12 in all competitions this season and has lead the line expertly this term. The forward started his career at Clevedon Town, where the forward spent seven season and even captain the side at 24 before moving up to Step Four to play for Larkhall Athletic. The forward was excellent at Larkhall, with his power and physicality hard to defend. The forward scored an impressive 22 goals in only 39 games for the Larks which included a four-goal haul against Bideford in a 4-3 win. The forward also grabbed goals against the likes of Bashley, Mousehole and Evesham United. The forward had an impressive game at Langsford Park back in 2024 with the attacker smashing the bar and creating two Larkhall goals in a 3-3 draw. After one season the forward left the Larks and joined Step Three outfit Taunton Town. The forward led the line for the Peacocks at the start of the season even finding the net against Gloucester City on the opening day of last season. The forward also scored against Hanwell Town in the Southern Premier Division, however a red-card at Parkway after coming of the bench saw his game time at Taunton diminished. In October the forward signed for Frome, with the attacker ending the season with six goals from 28 games at the Robins. The forward managed four more goals at Step Three last season, which included strikes against Plymouth Parkway, Hanwell Town and Bracknell Town. A real powerhouse of a forward and a handful for any defender the forward is one of the favourites to win the golden boot this term in this decision and will be one to look out for in this clash.

Tavistock AFC Last Five Results:

Saturday 6th December: Malvern Town 5-1 Tavistock AFC

Tuesday 2nd December- Hartpury FC 6-1 Tavistock AFC

Tuesday 25th November- Falmouth Town 4-1 Tavistock AFC- Southern League

Saturday 8th November: Westbury United 3-2 Tavistock AFC- Southern League

Saturday 1st November – Tavistock AFC 0-1 Didcot Town – Southern League

 

Frome Town Last Five Results:

Wednesday 10th December- Frome Town 3-1 Swindon Supermarine

Saturday 6th December- Frome Town 2-1 Sporting Club Inkberrow

Saturday 29th November- Didcot Town 0-2 Frome Town

Wednesday 26th November- Frome Town 2-0 Bashley Fc

Saturday 22nd November- Swindon Supermarine 1-3 Frome Town