Ferris double seals opening day victory

Saturday 8th August.

Frome Town 2-0 Wimborne Town

Frome Town started their Premier Division South campaign in the perfect way with a 2-0 victory over Wimborne in front of 638 people at Badgers Hill.

The Magpies had the first opportunity of the game inside three minutes but Lewis Williams dragged his shot wide. Ten minutes later, Albie Hopkins saw his cross from the right deflected into the path of Callum Gould on the edge of the area who rifled his effort just over the bar. That would have been an incredible goal to kick-start the season.

Chances did seem aplenty in the first-half as a nice training ground move for the hosts just after the 20-minute mark saw Hopkins fizz in a ball from a set piece. Archie Ferris managed to get a flick on it as it just brushed the top of the crossbar and ricocheted away for a goal kick. It was a brilliant team move from Danny Greaves’ side.

Then ten minutes before half-time Kyle Phillips was called into action to make a superb, fully stretched save to deny the Wimborne striker Will Fletcher with a header from a free-kick delivery. Frome fans were up on their feet applauding their number one.

Three minutes later though, the Dodge were up and running for the new season as Hopkins delivered an exquisite ball from a free-kick to the back post. Ferris was there as he rose highest in the box to head the ball across the goalkeeper Kai Crampton and into the far corner to send the Robins into half-time leading by a goal to nil.

It was less than five minutes into the second interval and Phillips had to be alert once more, this time he did ever so well to save a shot that was bending into the far corner from Cam Sullivan’s long-range strike after drifting in field from the left flank.

In the 53rd minute, Harry Lucas played a great ball over the top of the Wimborne backline. Sam Meakes latched on to it on the left and did brilliantly to shrug off a few defenders before unfortunately firing his shot straight at Crampton. Would have been a fantastic solo goal had Meakes scored.

Then a few minutes later, the side from Dorset had a great chance to level the scores when Josh McQuoid was free at the back post but his header could only find the side netting.

The home side went searching for that all important second goal and on 66 minutes, Warren Maidment delivered a delightful cross towards Meakes at the back post but his header was just a fraction too high. Soon after, Hopkins tried his luck from an angle on the right from a set play but Crampton made the save.

After a lot of pressure, the Dodge finally made it count on 71 minutes. A miscommunication at the back from Crampton and his defender allowed Ferris to nip in and bury the chance into an empty net, great striker’s instinct and anticipation shown by our number nine to score the all important second goal which gave Frome all three points on their return to the Southern League Premier!

The games do come thick and fast in this league with a trip to Worcestershire on Tuesday night to take on Evesham United with kick off after Frome goes to press and a trip to Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday 15th August.

Report: Harry Minton

Upcoming Fixtures:

Sat 15th Aug Havant & W’ville (A) League 3pm

Sat 22nd Aug Gosport Borough (H) League 3pm

Sat 29th Aug Chertsey Town (A) League 3pm