In a highly entertaining match full of missed chances and great goals, Frome Town eventually ran out 3-2 winners, though credit should be given to Cinderford for doggedly defending, taking their chances when presented and almost taking away a share of the points.
Frome still have injury problems to deal with, though with Jake Jackson returning to the subs bench along with Aiden Kirby, and with Corby Moore starting alongside Mitchell Page, the side now has a few attacking options to play with.
Frome were favourites against Cinderford who started the night bottom of the league, though the last time Frome played at home against the bottom side in their last home league match almost a month ago, they were humbled by 4-0 by Dorchester.
Frome started the match really well playing fast, attacking, passing football and they went very close in the 4th as Corby Moore hit a snap shot over the bar as he was well found by Jon Davies. Moore then did well to get on the end of a perfect, deep right wing cross from Mitchell Page, but his downward directed header just shaved the post.
However, totally against the run of play, Cinderford took the lead in the 11th as Kyle Phillips came out of his area to sweep up a long ball, but lost control and was robbed by Blaine Waugh pulled the ball back for Jay Bown to shoot home. Despite the setback, Frome carried on turning the screw with Davies at his mercurial best and, as Nathan Summers headed a corner just over and Davies and Moore both had goal bound shots blocked, you began to wonder if it was going to be ‘one of those nights’.
The equaliser arrived in the 42nd minute with some quality football. Captain (and newly appointed coach) Dan Cleverley played a lovely ball to the far post that found Connor Roberts arriving to hit a perfect ball across the face of the goal. Page just missed his header but George Miller was on hand to head home.
Frome almost extended their lead in the 3rd minute of the second half as a Moore picked out the unmarked Page with a perfect little chip. As Page turned and hit an acrobatic shot from ten yards, he got slightly under it and the ball cleared the crossbar.
Page’s night only lasted another minute as he seemed to turn an ankle and was replaced by Aiden Kirby who, shortly after, had a great chance as an inch-perfect through ball from Davies put him clean through only to be denied by the legs of Ben Fletcher in the visitors’ goal.
The chances started to come thick and fast for Frome and, following a right cross from Roberts, Moore saw his shot deflected at the last. In the 72nd Davies cut in cleverly from the right and rolled a perfect pass to Moore who completely missed his shot from 8 yards out.
Another chance went begging a minute later as Marcus Mapstone won a Davies free kick and headed it across the goal to Kirby, whose diving header again missed the target from close range, and the ‘one of those nights’ feeling returned.
Frome replaced a left back with a forward as ‘supersub’ Jake Jackson replaced Chris Gregan, and the breakthrough finally came in the 76th as Kirby produced a great diving header at the far post, knocking in a Darren Jefferies free kick to the delight of the home crowd.
The chances just kept coming, with George Miller hitting the side netting as the ball was pulled back by Davies; Jackson robbed at the last instant by Fletcher as the ball bobbled just as he was about to shoot; but then Cinderford equalised against the run of play as a free kick on the edge of the Frome area was eventually driven home by Karnell Chambers after ricocheting a few times.
With three minutes left on the clock, Frome made it 3-2 as Dan Cleverley produced an excellent glanced header into the far corner of the goal from a Miller cross. In the final minutes Frome could easily have extended the winning margin as Jackson shot into the side netting and Kirby really, really should have scored right at the end as Davies again performed a miracle to set up an open goal, but he leant back and blasted over from no more than 8 yards out.
Jon Davies was deservedly awarded the H&B Tyres Man of the Match award by match and ball sponsors Howden’s Joinery. Crowd: 171. Entertainment Value: 5/5.
