Late winner secures opening day points for Town

Sat. 13th Aug. Southern League. Frome Town 1 Evesham United 0.

FROME Town began their season with an impressive opening day win over Evesham United at Badgers Hill. 

A late winner from George Rigg in the 90th minute sealed the three points as the team’s latest campaign in the Southern League’s Division One South got off to a thrilling start. Danny Greaves’ new-look squad have been hotly tipped to be among the movers and shakers for promotion at the end of the season.

This was an assured performance to back up such predictions and hopes, albeit one that was lacking in goals until injury time. For large parts of the 90 mins, it looked like Frome’s possessional dominance would go to waste.

The home team were on the front foot for much of the first half, winning tackles across midfield and pinning Evesham back for long passages of play. There was an inviting early chance for Frome when left-back, Ben Starr, stole into the Evesham box and crossed for Hopper, who put it inches wide from close range.

Evesham briefly shone, most notably when Benjamin Whitehead forced Kyle Phillips into a miraculous save, diving to his right and diverting the ball over the crossbar, to everyone’s disbelief.

Matt Smith, making his 300th appearance, one of a handful of players to have reached that special landmark, was forced off with an injury just after half an hour, but the Evesham defence remained uneasy in the face of Frome’s pressing.

The second half proved a display of the home team’s patience and resilience, as a commanding Frome found themselves camped in Evesham territory. Opportunities were frequent, especially in the form of the two wingbacks, Callum Evans and Ben Starr, often left unmarked to roam the flanks, but goals seemed to be hard to come by. 

Given the temperatures, it was a performance of surprising energy and dynamism, but the sea of blue Evesham shirts would not be parted. There was a superb save to deny a Jonathan Davies’ bicycle kick and new signing, Laurent Davis-Wilson, looked fleet of foot when he came on, shooting just wide of the post in the dying moments. 

There were moments of worry when Evesham threatened to break on the counter-attack, but the defensive trio of Baker, Maidment and captain Teale never looked in serious trouble. 

Evesham, who finished 13th in the division last season, seemed happy for the spoils to be shared, trying to slow down what had become a frantic and open game. The quarterly water breaks could have thrown the boys from BA11 off their rhythm, but Frome’s attacking unit continued to work hard and thrive. 

Despite the mercury hitting a scorching 33°C, a vocal troupe of Evesham fans, who certainly added to the atmosphere, and the Frome faithful braved the heat and replicated last season’s enthusiasm, with attendance recorded at 359. Finally, those at Badgers Hill were rewarded with dramatic and euphoric scenes, when Ben Starr crossed in for substitute Rigg to nod the ball past the keeper. It was the goal that the entire club had craved all afternoon and with it came a deserved win to begin the campaign. 

Overall, a solid and respectable start for Frome, but the boys from BA11 have little time to bask in the sunshine before what promises to be a competitive fixture with Willand Rovers, who travel to Badgers Hill next for an evening under the lights.

Photo credit: Steve McCarthy Photography.

• Town’s home game against Willand Rovers on Tuesday night this week, 16th August, was played as Frome Times went to press.