Sat 2 Oct. FA Cup. Bath City 5 Frome 0
Frome’s run in the FA Cup came to an end with a 5-0 defeat against Bath City at Twerton Park in front of over 1,400 fans.
A well-contested first half ended with Bath two goals to the good, before a goal early in the second period ended the game as a contest. The Romans quality in attack saw them add two further goals before the final whistle.
First-half goals from Alex Fletcher and Jack Batten gave the home side a commanding lead at the interval but the Robins did have opportunities to score in a wet and windy opening 45 minutes.
Jon Davies tested Bath goalkeeper Murphy Mahoney with an effort from the edge of the box before George Rigg hit the woodwork when there was just a goal between the sides with what turned out to be Frome’s best opportunity of the afternoon.
Bath’s Elliott Frear, who earned himself man of the match after being involved in four of his side’s five goals, wrapped up the victory for Jerry Gill’s side with a tidy finish from just inside the penalty area early in the second half.
From there, the National League South side’s quality in attack shone through in what was the first ever meeting between the two teams at Bath’s home ground.
Striker Cody Cooke intelligently flicked home a cross from Eddie Jones midway through the half, and in the final ten minutes Cooke headed in from close range to add further gloss to the score-line.
Despite the heavy final score, the travelling support from Frome were loud throughout the 90 minutes and earned a deserved applause from players and staff at full-time.
Southern League Challenge Cup Weston-Super-Mare 3 Frome Town 2
Frome exited the Southern League Challenge Cup after coming out on the wrong side of an entertaining contest.
A first goal of the season from Kane Simpson gave the Robins the lead early in the second half but two quick-fire goals from the home side gave them the win. Weston forward Prince Henry gave his side an early lead when he reacted quickly to a corner.
Despite the early setback, Frome were back on level terms soon after with James Ollis slotting home from the penalty spot after he had been fouled in the box. Rex Mannings then saw a penalty of his own saved by Weston ‘keeper Luke Purnell after Ollis had been brought down, this time by Purnell, after the Robins forward had chased down a mis-timed defensive header.
It was the home side who had most of the chances in the remainder of the first half but when they did hit the target, Seth Locke was on hand to keep them out. Weston started the second half strongly but it was Frome who took the lead when Simpson beat the offside trap and lashed home a powerful effort off the underside of the crossbar for his first strike of the campaign. Weston drew level when Adam Smith did brilliantly to cut in from the left and bend a shot beyond the dive of Locke.
The decisive goal arrived when Lloyd Humphries was on hand to turn home a cross from Henry after the striker had escaped down the left wing. Despite pushing for an equaliser in the remaining half hour, Weston defended resolutely and secured progress to the next round. One positive for the Robins was a debut for 16-year-old Lucas Scwalbe-Goodwin in the closing stages.
