Frome Town vs Barwell FC

Don't let that sign fool you, it's still Badgers Hill

Due to York City's continued involvement in the FA Trophy City's game was postponed. To get my footballing fix and to generally just get out of the house I decided to go watch Frome Town vs Barwell in the Southern League.

See I told you!

Fighting a hangover from the previous nights excesses I boarded the train at Bradford for the short 20 minute journey to Frome. Frome is a historic town in Northeast Somerset and for a very long time was actually the bigger settlement than Bath, with an industry based on wool and cloth. Having not been to Frome in a long time I had forgotten how picturesque large parts of the town are.

The weather was beautiful as me and Al arrived at The Cornerhouse, nothing like a beer to try and get over the problems beer is causing! While supping a Blindmans Gold I was texting a girl I know from Frome in a desperate attempt to get instructions on how to get to the ground. Detailed instructions were forthcoming so we headed down town with coats slung casually at the side. A swift stop in the Archangel (remarkably posh) was enjoyed, before we headed up the Hill to Badgers Hill home of Frome.

Badgers Hill is still showing its Western League credentials with Frome having been promoted in 2009 and this is the final year they are allowed to make the necessary changes. Namely the adding of more seats. However, as it is, there is one stand with some benches, a bit of covered terracing and the rest is flat concrete with a wall around, the only difference being the clubhouse and the ability to drink from its steps while watching the game, a proper nonleague ground for a proper nonleague game.

Stand currently not up to scratch

Barwell are team from the Leicestershire village of Barwell. Quite how a team that far north is in the Southern League I will never quite grasp. However, given the very real possibility of Bath City ending up in the Conference North I will stop questioning league arrangements now.

Frome haven't been on the best run recently, and hadn't scored a home goal at all during February. Hence the pessimism around the ground amongst the 218 of the 222 who weren't Barwell fans or me and my mate. The game kicked off and quickly settled into the form it would take for the rest of the game....hoof ball football! With an unbelievable amount of stoppages. I didn't envy the ref at all in this game, he was getting it in the neck from all side. However, once again due to this being the Southern League you could hear him explain his decisions to the management and the players, you can stick your shiny Premier League up your arse, give me non league any day!

Inside awaits beer...and a fitness class. Very odd.

Frome forward Ricky Hulbert (formerly of Bath City, see link for more info http://www.ilovebathcity.com/index_golf.htm ) was causing the defence some problems, but the game was very poor and very bitty.

The half time whistle blew with the score nil nil, and we retired to the clubhouse. We watched the second half from the clubhouse steps beer in hand, and laughed hard at the advertisement for Lounge Lizzard Entertainer and his Noel Edmunds infringement "Deal or Not" Amazing idea there by Mr Lizzard and we enjoyed the audacity a lot.

Deal or Not, amazing Sir amazing

 The game continued in much the same vein, very little chances, some unbelievable abuse from one Frome fan who I was duly informed does that every game!

Given the level of abuse he was dishing out to opposition players and his "colourful" use of language he must count himself lucky to be watching non league where no-one cares enough to do anything! The FA's stamp out homophobia campaign may need to visit Badgers Hill as the words, poof, queer and faggot were being used a lot. However, it didn't bother me, didn't bother anyone else, so who cares!?

Then an unexpected thing happened, in the 87th minute the ball dropped to Frome's left winger Ben Thompson, who cut inside onto his right foot and just inside the penalty area slotted the ball cooly into the bottom corner. A surprisingly good finish in a game of such little quality, and the Frome hordes (can you call 200 a horde?) cheered the first goal they'd seen in almost 360 minutes of football. Frome clung on for the last few minutes and won the game 1-0. The result rocketed Frome up the table away from the relegation zone, and in truth was what they deserved, while the game was low on quality, Frome had created the best of the chances and if it wasn't for two brilliant saves by the Barwell keeper Frome could have won by more.

Another enjoyable day groundhopping was finished, and as always I felt much better for having gone and done something with the Saturday. Now after City's unexpected midweek victory at Barrow perhaps we'll sneak a win at home to Lincoln on Saturday.