Frome Town 2-1 Cambridge City – Southern Premier League, Sat. 20th Sept.

Frome Town recorded their best performance of the season to run out 2-1 winners, and at the same time provided a great advert for Southern League Premier Division football.

The Robins had two early chances with efforts from Aaron Rodriguez and Matt Smith blocked in the opening minute, before Frome keeper Darren Chitty produced an astonishing triple stop with two flying saves to deny Danny Kelly and Chris Bacon, before then saving with his feet to prevent Kelly from scoring.

Kelly then hit the post with a header before Frome took the lead on 40 minutes as a miss-timed punch by Cambridge debutant ‘keeper Richard Knight fell straight to Rodriguez who fired into the empty net.

Straight at the start of the second half Cambridge should have pulled themselves level as a great cross from Josh Dawkin found the unmarked Kelly, but he blazed high over the bar with only Chitty to beat from close range.

Frome had a long spell on top with some good possession as a great surging run by Rodriguez found Ben Thomson in space on 63 minutes and his shot was deflected onto the post for a corner. After Frome won a second corner Thomson then headed wide. Rodriguez then set-up Tom Golledge who shot straight at Knight from the edge of the area and then the visiting ‘keeper did superbly to tip behind a long range effort from Smith.

The Robins then put themselves further ahead on 84 minutes as the non stop running of Thomson saw him with a snap shot saved by Knight, and as he was about to shoot again he was upended and Kris Miller converted the resulting spot kick.

Cambridge pulled a goal back on 86 minutes as a free kick right on the edge of the Frome area was clipped to the far post, and the header back across goal was tapped home by Michael King.

Star Man: Matt Smith (Frome). Attendance: 165.