Away victory for Town’s first game of the season

Sat. 17th August. Southern League Div. One Highworth Town 0 Frome Town 1

Will Hailston’s first half strike secured an opening day 1-0 away victory for Frome Town at Highworth Town’s Save-on-Tyres Stadium.

Robins’ manager Danny Greaves named five debutants, including returning heroes Jon Davies and Mark Cooper, in his first eleven of the 2019/20 season.

The Robins had their first shot-on-goal of the campaign on seven minutes through Mark Cooper, but the defender effort was tame after a nice mazy run into the host’s penalty area.

In the early stages, both sides were getting to grips with a mixture of blustery conditions and a sloping pitch which meant that neither side were able to get a stranglehold on proceedings.

A lung bursting run from Joe O’Loughlin nearly gave The Robins a chance to take the lead, however none of his team-mates were able to get a touch on his goal-line cross.

The deadlock was broken on the 20 minute mark as Hailston, who had been prolific in pre-season, converted Cooper’s through ball from close range.

Soon after, Jon Davies managed to evade The Worthians defence but he was unable to place the ball past ‘keeper Connor Johns.

The hosts broke through The Robins backline for the first time just after the hour mark, but Rob Brown was equal Sol Pryce’s fierce strike inside the area.

Neither side were able to properly take hold during the final stages of the match, as both sides made good chances.

However, The Robins stood resolute as they secured three points, after a thoroughly professional performance, on the opening day of the season.

FROME TOWN XI: Brown, Cooper, O’Loughlin, Teale, Mapstone, Peck, Davies, Hailston, Mannings, Monks, Cottle. SUBS: Dawley, Hallett, Lenihan, Yeo, Bath.

Report by James Burgoyne