This is the re-scheduled fixture which has been postponed twice, in November and January.

The two teams promoted from Division One South last season both have seven games left. Danny Greaves’ Robins have been stuck in the bottom four since the end of August and currently lie 19th with a W8 D13 L14 GF 34 GA 49 record; at their Badgers Hill home it’s W3 D6 L7. Tim Sills’ Wimborne are now eighth, the highest they’ve been since mid-August, with a W13 D9 L13 GF 43 GA 49 record; on their travels it’s W3 D5 L8. Both teams won 1-0 on Saturday: The Robins at Basingstoke; The Magpies at The Wyatt Homes Stadium over Plymouth Parkway. What effect will three points on Tuesday mean for each team? Frome would move out of the red zone, and, depending on Chertsey’s result that evening, could rise as high as 17th. Wimborne would remain 8th. That’s the bottom line. But if you like your footie facts, grab a cup of tea and prepare to read on – Frome are a dream team for those of us who like our stats!

We can split The Robins’ season into two. On the last day of November they lost 2-1 at Marlow, and reached their low point of this league campaign. At that time their record for the season was W1 D5 L11 – that was a paltry eight points from 17 games with that sole victory coming on the opening day of the season 1-0 at Gosport. They’d also been knocked out of the FA Cup at home by S.L. Div One Larkhall.

Since then Frome’s record is an impressive W7 D8 L3, including 10 clean sheets, with a home record of W3 D4 L1. Before the reverse fixture at the Wyatt Homes Stadium on 1st March, I asked Manager Greaves what was the difference, he replied: “We’ve taken a pragmatic approach.” And, boy, has it worked in terms of results! Those 29 points taken from 18 games gives a points per game calculation of 1.61. To show just how good that is, Hungerford in 7th have a ppg of 1.44, while 6th-placed Havant & Waterlooville’s ppg is also 1.61. In their 14 games in 2025, Frome have only conceded more than one twice, both at home – 3-0 against Sholing on 8th February, and a crazy 3-3 draw with Marlow two weeks later. The Robins are eighth in the current form table: W2 D3 L1, and are four games unbeaten at Badgers Hill: a goal-less draw with Gosport; that 3-3 with Marlow, a 1-0 win over Hanwell, and, on 15th March a 1-1 draw with Havant. Since Frome lost 1-0 at Wimborne, they’re unbeaten in four: those home games with Hanwell and Havant, a 0-0 at Tiverton, and Saturday’s 1-0 win at Basingstoke. Archie Ferris, Albie Hopkins, and James Ollis have each scored in Frome’s last three matches. So that’s a snapshot of what Frome are currently like, a tough team to play at this time.

But then you can say the same about Tim’s team. Their eight game unbeaten run, including a draw with Merthyr and that never-to-be-forgotten 3-1 win over Totton, sees them third in the current form table with a W4 D2 L0 record. On their travels they’re unbeaten in four: 2-2 at Hanwell, 1-1 at Dorchester, 2-1 winners at Chertsey, and 0-0 at Supermarine. The defence has conceded a miserly four goals in their last eight games. Leading scorers Will Fletcher and Matty Burrows have both been among the goals recently.

How have we fared at Badgers Hill in our Southern League days? To be honest – not too well. Four defeats in our first four visits – three in the league, one in the FA Cup. But last season goals from Harry Morgan and an absolute belter from Matt Neale earned us a well-deserved draw.

The pitch at Badgers Hill tends to be on the heavy side, and with Westbury Utd having played their home matches at Frome for the past couple of months, the surface has been well used. After the recent dry spell, it’s bound to be hard and bobbly, so, like the game at the Wyatt Homes Stadium, expect the ball to spend a lot of time in the air.

Wimborne won the reverse fixture 25 days ago 1-0 thanks to skipper Sam Jackson’s goal. Can the boys bag a first win at Badgers Hill, and complete the double? Can Frome lift themselves out of the relegation zone? It’ll be tight, it’ll be tense, it’ll be a great game to watch. COYM!

Frome’s Badgers Hill ground: Berkley Road, Frome, Somerset  BA11 2EH  – approx 45 miles

Average attendance: 489

Admission: adults £12, concessions £9, students £4, U16s £2.

Weather forecast: clear; 8oC; <5% chance of rain.