Words provided by Matt Friday - Falmouth Town

Falmouth Town will aim to get 2023 off with a bang with another three points when they host title challengers Bridgwater United in the Western League on Monday, January 2 (kick-off at 3 pm).

This festive fixture at Bickland Park will be both sides' first match of 2023, with Town hoping to mark the new year by recording three consecutive league wins for the first time this season.

Victory on Monday could see Town move above Clevedon into eighth, while Bridgwater could rise to the summit if they walk away with at least a point.

Opposition view

Bridgwater are led by Dave Pearse, who guided the Somerset outfit to a fifth-place finish in the Western League last season as well as Les Phillips Cup glory, with the Robins beating Cadbury Heath 1-0 in the final in May.

The Robins are having an excellent 2022/23 season thus far and sit second in the Western League Premier Division having won 15 and drawn four of their 20 league games to date.

Pearse's side are also enjoying another run in the FA Vase, having beaten Elburton Villa and Cribbs to match last season's feat of reaching the last 32 of the national non-league competition.

Bridgwater has scored 70 goals in all competitions this season, with Jacob Brown leading the way with 18 strikes in 21 games, while Jack Taylor is next with 12 goals this term.

Westy's words

"There's no better way to start a new year than facing another top side. I think on reflection of 2022 at home it was a fantastic year for us obviously, having won everything that we did, but our home form was so impressive and I think our home from has been impressive this year in the Western League as well. When you enter a new league it's important that you pick up wins at home and the away games will take care of themselves.

"[This game] is on the back of two really impressive wins for us. Confidence will be high and I'm sure Bridgwater will know they'll be in for a game regardless. They're near the top of the league for a reason, they're a good side and have plenty of strengths so we're expecting that, but hopefully we can kick on and do the things we're good at and go from there.

"Wins are very hard to come by and you set yourself small challenges each month, and would many have put us down for getting six points out of those two games against Saltash and Barnstaple? Probably not, so we're ahead of the curve in this block.

"But to go the whole of October, November and December undefeated in the league is a great achievement and hopefully we can do the same in January, but if we don't get the positive result let's reset the targets and go again."

Last five games – Falmouth Town:

Dec 26: Saltash United 1-3 Falmouth Town (League)

Dec 10: Falmouth Town 5-4 Barnstaple Town (League)

Dec 3: Torpoint Athletic 1-1 Falmouth Town (League)

Nov 19: Falmouth Town 2-1 Ashton & Backwell United (League)

Nov 12: Laverstock & Ford 2-1 Falmouth Town (FA Vase)

Last five games – Saltash United:

Dec 26: Bridgwater United 2-2 Clevedon Town (League)

Dec 2: Bridgwater United 1-0 Cribbs (FA Vase)

Nov 19: Barnstaple Town 0-2 Bridgwater United (League)

Nov 15: Bridgwater United 2-4 Wellington (Les Phillips Cup)

Nov 12: Elburton Villa 0-4 Bridgwater United (FA Vase)

Stadium address

Bickland Park, Bickland Water Road, Falmouth TR11 4PB

Tickets

Adults: £6

Under-16s and concessions: £3

We advise that supporters arrive in plenty of time to avoid queues at the gate shortly before kick-off.

Matchday programme

Limited copies of our matchday programme will be available on entry to the ground for £1.

50:50 draw

A collection for the 50:50 draw will be made during the first half, with the winning ticket announced over the PA system at half-time. Each entry to the draw costs £1.

Refreshments and facilities

Once inside Bickland Park, food and beverages can be purchased from the serving hatch immediately to your left upon entering the ground.

Toilets can be found inside the clubhouse and in the hut at the far end of the ground.

Seating is available in the grandstand, with disabled access provided via a separate entrance at the top of the steps alongside the back row.