Monday 6th April
Southern League Premier South Division
Frome Town 3-2 Shaftesbury
Frome Town have been crowned Southern League Premier South Champions after goals from David Duru and two from Archie Ferris clinched a dramatic 3-2 win against Shaftesbury on Easter Monday.
Talisman Duru broke the deadlock inside four minutes with his audacious kick over Ben Taylor’s head between the sticks.
However, the visitors responded in rapid time, with Jack Hoey netting the equaliser just five minutes after; his effort was fired into the top left corner after a throw-in was poorly cleared.
The Rockies, in fact, took the lead just shortly into the second half; after Harris Feltham’s foul inside the box, Santos sent Kyle Phillips the wrong way.
However, it was Frome’s leading goal-scorer who stole the show with Ferris’ brace with just three minutes between each of them, sending Badgers Hill into raptures.
There was one simple plan that was set before the clash with the Dorset side, one point needed, and that’s the champions trophy wrapped up.
An unchanged team after the comfortable victory just three days prior against Sporting Club Inkberrow. And the Scarlet Runners started in their normal style, getting an early lead from their powerhouse attack.
The ball found our number 16 in the air as Duru attempted a rather fearless effort inside the box with just four minutes on the clock to put the Robins ahead.
The visitors responded with a goal of their own, a lapse in concentration from the Town defence gave Hoey an effort at goal, with his strike netting the top left corner.
Former Robin James Ollis had two chances in quick succession to put the visitors ahead; he picked up the ball off Maidment and drove towards the 18-yard box. He squared the ball to Hoey, but Lucas was able to clear the ball away.
Ollis is played through on goal, with fans and players assuming he was offside; he continued, but no call was given, and his effort was gladly saved by Phillips.
Top goalscorer Ferris had a chance to take the lead back; his curled effort from 25 yards out cannoned off the crossbar, making the Shaftesbury players skip a breath.
Heal was given the ball on the left flank and looked to strike the ball towards the right-side netting, but a great stop by Taylor kept the scoreline level.
Just nine minutes into the second half Shaftesbury were given a penalty, following the high foot connecting with the visitor’s attacker’s foot.
Santos was able to outsmart Phillips with his dragged-out run-up to the penalty spot, sending him the wrong way and slotting the ball into the bottom right corner.
Manager Danny Greaves had to respond with just 30 minutes left on the clock making two substitutions that had an instant impact.
Albie Hopkins’ cross from the right edge of the box found Ferris; the number 11 flicked the ball into the net with his heel without him facing the goal, bagging that equaliser Frome desperately wanted.
Former Taunton poacher Ferris got his second of the afternoon not long after the first; with Sam Meakes perfectly poised, the ball over the top played him through on goal, and he was able to smash the ball into the top left corner with Taylor closing the space down.
Ferris was desperate to get his hat-trick on such a monumental day; he took aim from just outside the 18-yard box as a volley, but it just dragged wide.
Dodge fans were eagerly anticipating the final whistle with time withering out for the visitors to snatch any points, but all three of them were to the good, as the party started straight away.
Report: Thomas Groves
Pictures: Steve McCarthy
