AFC Totton
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IF THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIV.1 SOUTH 2022/23 season were a golf course, we would now be playing the back 19 holes – albeit having skipped past a couple due to unplayable greens – meaning that increasingly, we will be meeting teams for the second time in the current campaign.
When the two sides met at Badgers Hill in Somerset in August, Scott Rendell’s 88th-minute headed goal, courtesy of a late creative cameo from substitute Jake Adams, gave AFC Totton their fourth consecutive victory over The Robins (including last November’s penalty shoot-out success in the FA Trophy), inflicting upon Frome their first defeat of the season.
Despite reaching the Promotion Play-Offs last term, Danny Greaves’ men have been blowing hold and cold since that single goal defeat, and Hampshire has been a particularly unhappy hunting ground with further defeats in both league and cup at Bashley, and a 2-3 loss at current league leaders Sholing.
The formerly high-flying Robins come to the Snows Stadium in ninth place in the Southern League Div.1 South table, hoping to record their first league win in five matches, dating back to a comfortable 4-1 win over Slimbridge AFC in mid-November when two goals each from James Ollis and Luke Hopper saw them recover from Rudi Mckinnon’s first-minute opener for The Swans.
Other highlights of Frome’s season so far include a handsome 4-0 away win at Larkhall Athletic on the August Bank Holiday Monday, Hopper again scoring goals at the double, a 2-0 home win over Hamworthy United and a single goal success against Exmouth Town thanks to captain Samuel Teale’s 42nd-minute winner. But inconsistency has blighted their season and The Robins will be looking to put their first win of 2023 on the board at Totton’s expense, following Monday’s 2-2 home draw with Larkhall when a George Rigg brace seemed to have secured the points, only for two goals during the last 10 minutes from Harley Prior and Max Williams to claw back a point for The Larks.
Tiverton Town terminated Frome’s progression in the Emirates FA Cup at the 1st Round Qualifying stage, after a routine 3-0 win at Western League Premier Division side Buckland Athletic had seen them safely through the Preliminary Round. Their involvement in the Isuzu FA Trophy lost its way in the New Forest with a 1-4 defeat at newly-promoted Bashley. Wins against Wellington FC and at Radstock Town have seen them progress in the Somerset Premier Cup, a competition The Robins have won four times throughout their 118-year history, most recently in 2008/09.
Frome Town's former AFC Totton midfielder Jonathan Davies stretches to challenge Ben Jefford during last season's FA Trophy encounter at the Snows Stadium.
There are two ex-AFC Totton players among the Frome Town ranks. Former Portsmouth University student Ben Starr plays as an attacking wing-back. Having grown up in Somerset, he signed for Salisbury after completing his studies and has since returned to the area to join The Robins. Attacking midfielder Jonathan Davies is widely recognised as being among the most creative players in the Southern League, and has been an integral member of the team since returning from a season-and-a-half at Melksham Town. After coming through the ranks at Salisbury, he had a loan spell with Chippenham Town before spending five years with The Stags from 2010-2015. His first-half withdrawal due to injury in the match at Badgers Hill in August significantly blunted the home side’s attacking threat.
Totton lead the way in the historical head-to-head against Frome Town, dating back to the 2009/10 season. From a total of 19 meetings, The Stags have recorded 9 wins (including last season’s penalty shoot-out victory) and 3 draws, with The Robins amassing 7 wins.
By Ben Rochey-Adams and Malcolm Tombs, Club Historian
Image courtesy of Craig Hobbs Photography
