It may sound like a grand seat of power in Game of Thrones but our opponents this week Larkhall actually hail from the salubrious suburbs of Bath, playing their home games at the elevated Plain Ham ground, a venue we have never visited before now.
Despite our clubs having distinctly different paths through the non-league scene over the decades, we have managed to meet once in our combined histories – a Southern league cup tie at the Bob Lucas stadium back in 2018. It was the Larks who progressed to the next round that day courtesy of a single goal from Cory Simpson. The Terras lineup on that Tuesday evening at the Bob Lucas stadium was – Dennis, Seibou,(James), Cooper, (Tiago Sa), Wells, McCarthy, (Harvey), S Stewart, Wakefield, Ngalo, Baker, McGrath, Rodriguez.
Our mid-week hosts have spent the majority of their 112 year history playing county football but they have been plying their trade at regional level since 1976. At that time they joined the Western league division 1 and there they remained for 33 consecutive seasons until securing promotion to the Premier division in 2009, finishing 14th in their inaugural campaign. However, following four top 5 finishes on the trot they were promoted once more – this time to this current Southern league division 1 South in 2014 where they have stayed to this day. The three most recent campaigns for the Larks have been mixed though – a 6th place finish in 2024 was no tell for a disappointing 18th position the following year but their most recent season saw the Bath-based outfit finish in 9th place and mid-table security.
In terms of players who have featured for both sides I have found just three, two playing for the Terras in the same season in 2009/10. Most prominently Matt Groves, who featured 28 times in that infamous Conference South relegation campaign. (He had a brief spell at Larkhall some 8 years later.) The other that year was Tyler Sibbick – He came on just twice as a sub, both drubbings without the Terras troubling the scorers. Lastly Lee Collier is also known to both clubs – He played one summer friendly against Hamworthy United in 2009 but didn’t go on to sign forms.
Back to this meeting and if we look at the 2nd game of the season for the Terras in recent times our record is mixed with 4 wins, 5 losses and just the one draw. When away that reduces to 3 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws. Our most recent victory in matchday no.2 of the campaign was a win though – 2-0 away at Plymouth Parkway 12 months ago, marking Warren Feeney’s first away league win at the 14th time of asking.
Will the Larks be singing from on high after this weekend or will the Terras conquer force them into landing?
