Steve Jupp, BA11's Club Historian, previews another festive derby with our Wiltshire neighbours!
Boxing Day's Badgers Hill meeting with Melksham gives the Robins a quick opportunity to get back on track following that frustrating reversal at Cribbs.
It was only their third league defeat of the campaign and both of the other two, 3-1 at Bemerton in August and 3-2 at Bashley a couple of months later, were immediately followed by runs of five straight wins and four straight wins respectively.
Home Bank Holiday encounters with Melksham have produced late drama in recent years. Who can forget the Christmas classic of 2021 which attracted over a thousand enthralled fans to witness Alex Hallett's stoppage-time strike salvage a thrilling 3-3 draw?
Then there was Easter Monday last season. Frome, 1-0 up, were awarded a late penalty which Jon Davies took and saw saved. Albert Hopkins then levelled on the counter only for Jono to gain redemption right at the death with a dramatic winner and impromptu leap into the crowd.
Post-Covid, Melksham have recorded 8th- and, last season, 12th-placed finishes in Division One South and Saturday’s 5-0 thumping of Paulton elevated them to 12th in the table.
It was their first win since late October and ended a run in the league of four draws in a row. They don't lose many, particularly on the road where their record of just two away defeats cannot be bettered by any other side in the Division.
This keenly-contested derby has become something of a Boxing Day tradition and is a fixture that rarely disappoints.
Some potential Christmas gifts for you and a key game on Boxing Day! Make sure to secure your entry as soon as possible!