After an excellent away win on the previous Saturday, Frome Town produced another superb away performance as they comfortably defeated AFC by four goals to nil.
In a topsy turvey season, Frome Town are rapidly becoming the ‘away day’ specialists as this victory made it five successive away league victories on the trot under three different managers, a success record only bettered by Chesham who currently sit on the top of the table.
On a chilly clear night and on an excellent playing surface, Frome were almost caught out in the 2nd minute as a poor pass let in Luke Roberts for a chance, but his shot from 20 yards flew straight into the arms of Darren Chitty.
Frome had a chance a minute later as Matt Smith, Ben Wood and Rhys Baggridge combined to set Smith up, but his shot flew just wide of the post, but then they took the lead in the 9th minute as Mark Cooper did superbly well on the left to provide the perfect cross for Baggridge to score at the far post.
As the match settled, Frome moved into the driving seat with Smith curling an effort just wide of the post in the 17th minute and Wood bringing an excellent save from Joe McCormack three minutes later, after Kurt Hammonds and Baggridge had set up the shooting opportunity.
Chitty was called into rare action shortly afterwards to deny Jamal Branker, and five minutes later a poor free kick from Frome allowed Alex Moth the opportunity to hit the Frome post, but then Frome re-asserted their authority as Aaron Ledgister received the ball in acres of space on the right, allowing him to hit the Totton bar with a looped shot over McCormack that Wood then swept home as the ball fell invitingly.
Frome were comfortable with their two goal lead at half time, but then, 10 minutes into the second half, Chitty produced a stunning save to deny Moth after a great run by Branker, and then Frome scored two in two minutes to make it 4-0 on the night. The third goal came as Wood outpaced the Totton defence on the left before pulling it back perfectly for Brandon Mundy to fire home, and the fourth followed another great build up which allowed Ledgister to fire low across the area for Wood to turn the ball home.
Totally confident now, Frome started to play some lovely stuff, with patient build ups followed by attacking at pace when the opportunity arose. Smith shot wide on the hour after Cowler and Wood had set up the chance, and new signing George Russell set up a move that allowed Mundy to bring a parry from McCormack that Wood put just wide.
As the game moved towards the final whistle, Frome were content to comfortably defend their lead and rare Totton attacks led to the occasional half chance that was dealt with easily by Chitty, and it could well have been 5-0 in the 87th as a Ledgister cross allowed Will Agbo to hit the post, with Wood just failing to put the rebound away. However the fifth did come in the 91st minute as Russell moved forward and set up Wood who scored with a well placed shot to complete his hat trick on the night. A great performance and a perfect result.
Ben Wood was awarded the “H&B Tyres Man of the Man Award” for yet another outstanding performance, a hat trick and an inspiration to everyone with his work rate that continuously causes opposing defences problems.
Frome Scorers: Baggridge (9), Wood (31) (58) (91), Mundy (57). AFC Totton Scorers: None. Crowd: 327. Star Man: Ben Wood. Entertainment Value: 5.
