Sat. 14th Sept. Southern League Div. One Frome Town 1 Willand Rovers 1
Frome and Willand played out a fast paced contest in front a crowd of 305 at the Hill.
The game became defined by two penalties with Hailston and Brown the heros for Frome. The game started lively and there were no signs of Willand playing like a team at the bottom. Organised and with a game plan to play out and force Frome back, the contest instantly became end to end.
A few half chances fell the way of Town, before Willand had the first real chance on 10 mins with Brown making his first of many telling contributions with an excellent save to his left. On 22 mins Mannings broke down the right, played a beautiful pass with the outside of his left foot through to Hailston, who shot tamely to the keeper’s right.
The deadlock was broken by Willand captain Joe Curtis. A fast break from a throw down the right saw Rob Brown make a fantastic save but the ball fell to Curtis who curled it into the top right corner.
Frome responded with a fast breakaway that saw a teasing cross from O’Loughlin turn into a goalmouth scrabble. The clearance landed at Davies’ feet who put the shot wide.
The game swung in Frome’s direction as the pressure built. Cooper worked the ball down the right and fizzed in a low cross, Hailston reacted quickest to get in front of the last defender but was hauled down. Hailston stepped up and put the ball into the bottom left giving the keeper no chance. Halftime allowed the crowds to catch their breath after a lightening paced first half.
Frome started the second half brightly. A swift series of one touch passes on the edge of the box created an opportunity for Cottle, who hit his shot straight at the keeper. Willand reacted promptly with their best chance but Rob Brown made a good save. Then Mannings broke away down the right, beating two before cutting in to fire agonisingly wide.
Next it was Davies’ turn as he stroked the ball towards the top right corner from 25 yards out, however keeper Searle acrobatically pushed it around the post. The crowd were on their feet as the end to end action at the Hill continued.
Then the defining moment of the match. Teale was judge to have caught the forward in a incident similar to the penalty in the first half. However the penalty was saved by Rob Brown down to his right and the follow up was cleared off the line by an O’Loughlin overhead kick.
The pace did not let up and the introduction of Ryan Bath helped Frome keep more possession in the Willand half. But it was Willand who nearly stole it with a long range header that hit the bar on 88 mins, followed by a second chance saved by the legs of Rob Brown.
The last few minutes of injury time saw Frome have a few free kicks that were well dealt with by Willand.
A draw was a great result for both teams as this was a game that truly could have gone either way.
