Saturday 27th January. Southern League Division One South. Frome Town 2-1 Bashley.
FROME Town secured a big three points to move to the top of the table after overcoming Bashley at Badgers Hill. James Ollis’ brace was enough to defeat The Bash who have somewhat been a ‘bogey team’ for the Robins as of recent times.
Despite Bashley sitting 17th, it was never going to be an easy game, and with them taking points off the likes of Cribbs and Bristol Manor Farm away from home, Frome had to be wary of the threats that they possess.
With previous head-to-head results all seemingly going the way of the Hampshire side, there were doubts whether it would affect Danny Greaves sides mentality going in to the game, however this was not the case at all.
If there were any doubts before kick-off, they were put to bed just five minutes in as Tom Duffin laid a pass off to George Rigg, who immaculately crossed for Ollis, who buried his header into the side netting leaving keeper Ross Casey no chance.
Duffin continued to be a massive threat in attack, and in the 14th minute he played an inch perfect pass to Ollis who appeared to be through on goal before the linesman raised his flag for offside. Then just three minutes later, Ollis found acres of space down the right and drove forward; he had Kane Simpson to square to in the box but opted to shoot and his effort was well blocked out for a corner, which Sam Teale headed just over the bar.
Then in the 32nd minute, Duffin broke past the Bashley defence again, racing onto a through ball before taking it round the keeper; unfortunately his touch was too heavy and he couldn’t quite reach it before it rolled out for a goal kick.
The home side continued their pursuit for a second goal before the break and were unlucky not to get it after Simpson flicked a Jon Davies corner wide of the right-hand post. At half-time there would have been plenty of frustrations amongst the Bashley management who would have recognised they were off it in the first half, but something was said at the break which made them come out the second half, well up for the task at hand.
Their early dominance in the second half was rewarded in the 50th minute through Conor Whiteley, who smashed an effort into the bottom left-hand corner from some distance out. The turn of the hour mark did see Frome get a foot hold back in the game. Simpson was unlucky not to score after a mix up at the back from Bashley, after he found himself in a foot race to the ball with the keeper, both colliding with each other before it fell loose to Zak Drew who couldn’t pick the pieces up.
It seemed like a bit of magic was needed and that is exactly what Davies provided. He plucked the ball out of the air magnificently in the 65th minute before feeding Ollis through, who made no mistake slotting cooly past Casey.
The Somerset side had to defend in numbers for the remainder of the match and the substitutes of Ross Staley, Joe Budd and Sam Meakes, all helped to manage the game. Regardless of Bashley’s second half efforts and Frome being forced to play direct for the majority, referee Iain Parsons bought proceedings to a close and secured the Robins another big three points.
The win does, for now, put Frome at the top of the league, but there’s still plenty of football to be played and it’s not the time to take the foot off the gas.
Match report by Harrison Richards.
