Cup heartbreak for Town

Tues 21st Mar. Somerset Premier League Semi Final Frome Town 1 – 2 Bath City

FROME Town fell short in a narrow defeat in the semi-final of the Somerset Premier Cup against Bath City of the National League South, two divisions above Frome.

Goals either side of half-time ended up being just enough for the Romans who fended off a late rally from the Robins after Sam Jones scored with minutes to go.

The hopes and enthusiasm of a partisan BA11 crowd  buoyed the ten-man Robins who put in a performance which to be proud after a serious injury to replacement Tyler Ashmead.

Danny Greaves drafted in two new faces, Matt Wood starting at the back and midfielder Sam Jones on the bench, to bolster what has become a paper-thin squad.

The crowd of 497 were, by their attendance, optimistic that the Robins could avenge the 2-1 defeat at the same stage of the competition last year.  And their sanguineness was not misplaced as Frome did their best to grasp the initiative. A half-fit James Ollis led the line, his devilry in holding the ball up still there despite an issue with his ankle. An untethered Owen Humphries appeared hungry in attack, his fizzing runs and Ben Starr’s incursions down the left looking the most likely combination to breach the Romans’ defensive rank.

Half an hour in and the Robins had had the better of it, but it was Bath City who edged ahead, a rapier-like delivery by Opi Edwards on the right which Cody Cooke read well and nicked past Seth Locke to score.

Last year’s runners-up had won 24 Somerset Premier Cup titles just one behind Yeovil’s haul, but none since 2007-08. After a dispiriting league season, Frome, meanwhile, were hoping to add to their own tally of four victories in the competition and a win against the odds would have seen them reach a first final since 2014.

A halftime replacement for Frome, coming on for Pierce Mitchell, Tyler Ashmead’s evening and his return from injury lasted seconds. The young wing-back, who had missed nearly six weeks after a hamstring injury, went down following a collision and was stretchered off to the supporters’ applause and well-wishes with a suspected dislocated knee.

Frome were put under increasing pressure by Bath’s attack and Scott Wilson calmly took a touch and fired his shot low to the left of a diving Locke to add a second.

A battling Frome were further constrained by the departure of topscorer James Ollis, who was deemed unfit to continue after tracking back to defend in his own box. Danny Greaves’ inability to replace the striker from a depleted bench allowed City a man advantage for the remaining 15 minutes of the tie.

Despite this, Frome halved the lead courtesy of Sam Jones who had come on in place of Ashmead.

The Bath side named by coach Jerry Gill was considered a strong one, but, in the frantic clamour that followed Jones’ goal, heads were lost, not least that of Tom Smith, whose lunatic lash-out at Owen Humphries with his boot resulted in him receiving a straight red card. What passions Somerset’s pre-eminent knockout competition doth kindle!

Amid havoc in the box from a corner, any glorious prospect of a Frome equaliser in front of the clubhouse was dashed, the final whistle blowing after Ben Starr’s volley was deflected away from goal.

Bath will be favourites when they face Paulton Rovers in the final at Huish Park after the Southern League side saw off Bridgewater by a goal in the competition’s other tie. As for Frome, with seven players unavailable before tonight and four players taken off injured, the character, mentality and attitude demonstrated by a cobbled-together side tonight was the culmination of the grit and bravery that has bloomed over the last few weeks. Danny Greaves wry smile belied a pride in his  team’s performance, one that will live long in the memories of those associated with the club.

Match report by Zeb Baker-Smith