Sat 13th Jan. Southern League Division One South. Frome Town 1 Paulton Rovers 0
FROME Town secured a big three points after overcoming county rivals Paulton Rovers in a tricky affair on a chilly afternoon at Badgers Hill.
A Zak Drew strike mid-way through the second half ensured the Robins secured another important win as well as earning bragging rights.
The win was important but certainly not as important as the minute’s applause before the game to remember the life of Sam Oatley, a Frome Town United coach, who sadly passed suddenly earlier in the week; that win was for you.
With the game being a derby, stakes were high for both teams on a personal level. It wasn’t a typical open, free flowing game that we’ve seen from Frome this season – it was a game of tactics. Paulton’s tactics were clear from the start with them defending in numbers and countering at every opportunity.
It was a game where Frome had to be patient, chances would eventually come, just not in the first half where keepers, Kyle Phillips and Frankie Phillips, probably wished they had worn a few more layers.
The best chances of the first 45, did fall to Frome however; the first in the 26th minute through George Rigg, who snatched at a chance after good work from Tom Duffin and Kane Simpson down the left, with the ball falling to Rigg on the left side of the box, the bobble of the pitch not helping him at all, and his effort was high and wide.
Just ten minutes later, Frankie Phillips was called in to action twice in the space of five seconds as Drew, who was the Robins’ biggest threat, forced a save while Simpson forced a second save from the rebound.
There was a scare just before half-time with Jon Davies going down. Luckily, he was fine to continue to the delight of the BA11 faithful, and the only magic that was needed from the break was a Danny Greaves half-time talk.
Greaves decided a change at the interval was the best way forward, with Sam Meakes replacing Will Taylor, triggering a change of shape, in the hope to stretch the Rovers backline. And this is exactly what happened, Meakes got in to the action from the get go, making runs in behind and wide, challenging for headers and providing what was missing from Frome in the first half.
He nearly created the first goal in the 49th minute too., winning the ball high and cutting back to Simpson who had his first effort blocked but saw the ball fall straight back to him, but could only put it wide.
It was then Drew’s turn to test the Paulton defence down the right, just two minutes later, twisting in and out, he laid the ball off to Joe Budd whose effort took a few deflections before going out for a goal kick.
Then in the 59th minute, Drew received it down the right again; he created another half chance for himself in the box on his right foot after a few quick stop overs but once again the bobble worked against the Frome attack and he got underneath it, sending it over the bar.
Paulton’s only real chance in the second half came in the 71st minute through Ed Butcher, who did well to turn Pierce Mitchell but could only send his effort wide of Kyle Phillips’ right hand post.
Another few changes from Greaves saw Ross Staley and Tyson Pollard come on which again gave Frome a few more ideas in attack and they certainly helped, as in the 73rd minute the two combined down the left before Staley’s ball in was met by Drew who placed it beyond the keeper, giving the Robins a huge goal.
The last 20 minutes saw Paulton unsurprisingly commit a few more men forward, the counter attack was always on for Frome but to no avail. The full-time whistle was blown, jubilation amongst the home fans, who will be happy to get one over their county rivals once again.
The win does put Frome joint first with other results going our way, but it’s not time to take our foot off of the gas pedal.
Match report by Harrison Richards.
