Saturday 14th October Frome Town 1 – 0 Mousehole
FROME Town extended their fine early-season form with an accomplished 1-0 victory over Mousehole. Zak Drew’s deft finish before the break went against the run of play in a first-half where the Cornish visitors had the better of the chances.
Alongside the goal came control for the Robins, who were in command for much the second-half without finding a way to bolster their lead, but at full-time Mousehole were left to rue several openings which went begging.
A fifth successive win in the league for Frome consolidated their position in the play-off positions and ensured the sense of belief and optimism among Danny Greaves’ squad and the fanbase will persist.
There was a swift realisation that this was not to be the seven-goal scorefest of Winterfield Road on Tuesday when Mousehole made an assertive start. Morgan Lewis hared down the left wing for the first of his many raids into Robins’ territory and forced a sliding block from the watchful Warren Maidment.
It was a cagey, lackadaisical start by the home side on a greasy pitch and the Seagulls saw to it that Kyle Phillips would have to toil between the posts, the keeper tipping away Hayden Turner’s curled effort with a crucial glove low to his left.
Last week’s killer instinct in front of goal had appeared to be out of kilter until Sam Meakes’ shot deflected into the path of Zak Drew who did just enough to nudge his effort past keeper Chenoweth and, crucially, beyond the line to land.
Frome emerged with a renewed purpose in their defending after half-time, evidence of this side’s ability to savour a lead and labour for clean sheets when physically matched by their opposition. The capacity to bring on replacement of James Ollis and Reece Rusher’s ilk was the telling difference between the sides, the latter sharing a glimpse into his footballing subconscious with his audacious attempt to chip the keeper from halfway, an effort that missed by a matter of feet.
Despite the relief of pressure that the pair guaranteed, it was an uncomfortable half to watch but rallied by the turnout of 475 in attendance, Frome rode their luck at times to see the game out.
Ryan Atkins and Zeb Baker-Smith.
