Saturday 18th April
Southern League South Division
Melksham Town 2-0 Frome Town
Frome Town suffered their first defeat in any competition since October as Melksham Town secured a huge three points in their survival hopes with a 2-0 win at home.
This result for the Dodge brings to an end a remarkable 31 games unbeaten in all competitions.
The hosts took an early lead in the sixth minute after a cross from the left back Jordan Williams was played into the box. Levi Irving was given the space and time to take a touch before unleashing a left footed strike which took a deflection on the way past Kyle Phillips.
The first opening for Frome came after 15 minutes when Albie Hopkins threaded a great through ball into the path of David Duru who was held off by the Melksham defender. However the ball fell to Archie Ferris who’s first time shot was really well saved by Adam Forster.
Chances were difficult to come by in the opening 45 minutes. William Christopher fired over a free kick for the home side on 33 minutes before Hopkin’s strike from the edge of the D was narrowly wide of the left corner just three minutes later.
With that came the half-time whistle with Danny Greaves’ side undoubtedly frustrated as Melksham went into the break leading by a goal to nil.
The Robins would make a double substitution at half-time with Duru and Harris Feltham making way for Sam Meakes and Brendan Holmes.
The two changes seemed to have a good impact on the team as they started the second-half much brighter and within a minute Frome had hit the crossbar with an Archie Ferris header.
The best move for the away side all game came on 63 minutes when the substitute Dan Dodimead controlled the ball with a good touch that allowed him to play in Hopkins down the right side. Hopkins’ first time cross into the box towards Meakes was excellent but unfortunately the striker couldn’t sort his feet out to get a good enough connection on the ball.
It just seemed like it wasn’t going to be Frome’s day and that was summed up eight minutes later in the 71st minute following a delivery for Melksham from the left. Joel Smedley was left unmarked in the six-yard box to tap home past Phillips to double the hosts’ lead. A really disappointing goal to concede from a Frome perspective.
The blushes were spared in the 76th minute as well when it looked like Jamal Lawrence was going to score a certain goal for Melksham with a one-on-one opportunity. However, the number nine blazed his effort over the bar.
The hopes of a comeback for the Dodge were soon eradicated just over ten minutes before full time when Sam Teale was shown a straight red for a heavy challenge on Williams. However, there were huge protests over the decision as it looked like the Frome skipper had won the ball.
Frome Town tasted defeat for the first time in half a year. They need to now pick themselves up ahead of the two big games they have left. The first of which is on Tuesday night, 21st April, in the Somerset Premier Cup Final at Twerton Park against Portishead Town as Frome Times goes to press, before welcoming the same opponents to Badgers Hill next weekend in the final league game of the season.
