The first goal was always going to be important in this match.
After Frome had missed a couple of chances in the first half, Dorchester scored just before half time and from that moment on there they were well worth their victory and cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win.
Frome showed just two changes from the side that had performed so well against Poole, with Jordy Nkunga back to play alongside Marcus Mapstone in the centre of defence, and with captain Sam Teal unavailable, eventual man of the match Connor Roberts started at left back.
There wasn’t much between the two sides in a lively affair on a surprisingly firm pitch given the recent weather. Dorchester shot in the 6th minute but the first clear cut chance fell to Frome in the 18th minute as a cross from Darren Jefferies found Rob Hobbs in the box and Dorchester’s Alan Walker-Harris did well to save with his feet before a defender hacked clear.
Frome’s Connor Roberts ripped in a right foot shot that was just deflected past the far post and with Jon Davies always causing the visiting defence problems, Frome were probably just shading the match until the inevitable sucker punch saw Dorchester take the lead in the 40th minute.
There seemed to be no real danger as Marcus Mapstone broke up an attack, but the ball broke to Ben Watson who fed the ball out to Oakley Hanger on the right and a crisp, low shot from the edge of the box seemed to deceive Darren Chitty and ball ended up in the far corner.
With both Davies and Page going close with curled shots just before half time, the game was finely balanced, but Frome’s problems with scoring goals at the moment was always going to make this a difficult game to get back into.
The second half started with Dorchester having the better of possession and territory and Frome always having to chase the game and leaving themselves exposed at the back.
Dorchester hit the base of the post with a free kick in the 55th minute and Frome had a promising attack end with a Hobbs shot charged down, but as Frome committed more and more players to the search for the equaliser, Dorchester always looked comfortable defending their lead, and they made it 2-0 in the 67th minute as a Frome corner led to a break on the left and substitute Jonah Ayunga ran 60 yards and slotted the ball past Chitty.
Ricky Hulbert managed to get his head to a Davies free kick in the 70th minute, but on the whole the delivery from dead ball situations was always lacking something and the Dorchester defence was rarely in any danger of conceding. Frome were caught cold again in the 77th minute as once again they committed most of the side to a corner and again a swift break (this time on the right) found them horribly exposed and substitute Liam Saters finished a very good run with a delightful chip over Chitty and the game was now firmly in Dorchester’s control.
The last quarter of an hour showed that Frome are facing a daunting task this year as they never really managed to cause the visitors any significant problems, and apart from the early save in the first half, it is hard to recall Walker Harris having to make a significant save in the remainder of the match.
Connor Roberts was awarded the H&B Tyres Man of the Match Award by match sponsors Blindman’s Brewery. Crowd: 259. Entertainment Value: 3/5.
