Saturday 24th January
Bristol Manor Farm 2-3 Frome Town
Frome Town were involved in a five-goal thriller at the weekend as they won by three goals to two away at Bristol Manor Farm.
It was a very important win for the Dodge, especially on a day where promotion rivals Shaftesbury had their game away at Willand Rovers called off and Winchester City dropped points in a 2-2 draw at home to Swindon Supermarine.
The first chance of the afternoon fell to the home side just minutes into the game. A loose pass from Zac Drew allowed Bristol Rovers loanee Kian Hill to run at the Frome defence before unleashing a strike from the edge of the area which was straight at Kyle Phillips who was the skipper for the Dodge in this game in Sam Teale’s absence.
After that, it seemed like the visitors took control of the game. It didn’t take long for them to take the lead; after just five minutes, a brilliant cross by Sam Heal was met by a free header from Sam Meakes who nodded home past the Manor Farm keeper Tom Creed.
The Robins created a couple more chances before they got their second. Meakes had another header, this one was just over the bar, and Drew tested Creed into a good save with his shot from outside the box on the right-hand side.
It was two pretty soon after however; Meakes being the provider for this goal with a lovely weighted through ball towards Albie Hopkins and the number 11 showed great composure to find a finish underneath the goalkeeper to double the away side’s advantage.
Danny Greaves’ side continued to create chances throughout the first half. George Dowling almost scored another cracker from outside the box after a lay off from Drew but it was a whisker past the right post. And Drew himself nearly made it three after the ball was pinballing around in the box following a corner; Drew had a swipe at it but it was inches over the bar.
Whilst Frome had the more chances, Bristol Manor Farm still looked like they could get something out of the game. Hill was a bright spark all throughout the opening 45 minutes and he had another chance where he cut inside from the left and got past Brendan Holmes, but his effort was turned away for a corner by Phillips.
The home side did get a goal back right before the break following a cross from the left by Bailey Croome; it took a big deflection off the former farmer Harry Lucas and the ball diverted into his own net. A perhaps fortuitous goal for Bristol Manor Farm, but an important one just before the half-time whistle.
There were rather odd circumstances at the start of the second-half. In the 49th minute following Elliot Duggan receiving treatment for the hosts for an injury, Frome kicked it back to Tom Creed in the Manor Farm goal, allowing them to restart the game. The ball ended up going in the net and the referee strangely allowed the goal to stand. The Manor Farm players are undoubtedly confused with the decision, but the Dodge showed true sportsmanship and gave Bristol Manor Farm a goal as Duggan then ran from kick-off unchallenged and slotted the ball home to bring the deficit back to one goal.
That was the only real highlight of the second-half; the game went very quiet from the moment onwards. Meakes had another header off target where he was a little off balanced, and the hosts forced a few corners and gave the Dodge a couple of scares late on but did not have the quality to create any meaningful opportunities for a potential equaliser.
A good win for Frome down at Bristol Manor Farm to send them 11 points clear at the top of the table. Next up they welcome Willand Rovers to Badgers Hill who are currently in the relegation zone and struggling for consistency as of late with six defeats in their last ten league matches.
Report: Harry Minton
