Matchday Preview – Barnstaple Town (A) Match Day 10
By Duncan Gardner
A trip to north Devon awaits for the Terras this weekend but the team will need to ward against getting caught in a rip ride if they want to ride the crest of a wave to three more points in surfing country!
The hosts are dipping their toes in the southern league again this season after finishing as Western league champions last term but this is not their first foray into these waters – they enjoyed a six-season-spell in this division a few years ago that ended in 2022. However they have more than kept their heads above water since then with four consecutive top 5 finishes before their promotion last term.
A tsunami of goals in their first home game this season ensured a 4-0 victory over Worcester Raiders but since then a sinking feeling has engulfed their Mill Road ground with 5 consecutive losses here – although all but one were by a single goal. When they set sail away from home they have plundered a few more points but their spoils have only been enough to anchor “Barum” in 16th place in the table.
This Saturday marks the third visit to this port for Weymouth, the most recent of which being a 3-2 friendly win from two goals down in 2015. But the home side have once tasted success here versus the Terras – an FA cup upset no less as they belied their position some two rungs below the Terras to survive a tide of shots and record a famous victory in 1972. Between these two games we also met in 1989 & 1993 at the Bob Lucas stadium, again in the FA cup but Weymouth were the victors on those occasions.
As for men that have walked the plank from one Barum to Weymouth or vice versa – there are a few notable names from different generations. Phil Stocker in the 50’s & 60’s, Gerry Pearson in the 80’s, Scott Doe & Stephen Reed earlier this century and finally present day in the form of current Terra Tor Swann who had two spells at the Mill Road ground.
Will Barnstaple record another famous victory to wipeout the Terras unbeaten run or will the surf be up for the Terras this Saturday?
