FROME Town failed in their attempt to get to the FA Cup 4th qualifying round as they went behind to a goal from Juan Luque on the half-hour, and despite levelling through Chas Hemmings in the 75th in a much better second half, Heybridge Swifts booked their place in the draw 4 minutes later, with a goal from Sam Bantick.
With Sam Teale not recovering from the injury sustained against Hereford on Wednesday, Frome reverted to starting George Miller at number 4, though in reality, Chas Hemmings played alongside Marcus Mapstone at the centre of defence.
After the long journey, Frome made the first half chance as a right wing run from Jon Davies allowed Darren Jefferies to shoot high over the bar from the edge of the area, but at the other end, Kyle Phillips brought off his first of many good saves as he saved well to his right to deny the dangerous Juan Luque after a slick right wing interchange.
With Heybridge now starting to make most of the running, Phillips again distinguished himself as he bravely saved at the feet of Luque who had accelerated into the space behind the defence, with the striker picking up a yellow card as the referee deemed that he had gone to ground too easily.
Frome were denied the opening goal in the 14th as Danny Sambridge produced an excellent save to tip over a shot from Mitchell Page that was heading for the top corner, but at the other end, Heybridge should have done better as, following a Lewis Godbold quick break, Harrison Chatting put his shot just wide.
However, Heybridge did take the lead in the 30th as a long cross field ball found Luque who promptly cut inside, beat two challenges and scored with a well directed shot into the far corner, a lead that they certainly deserved on the run of play.
The score remained 1-0 until half time, though Phillips again had to save from Luque, and with Jake Jackson bring a good save from Sambridge just before the interval, Frome really needed to move up another gear in the second half if they were to stand any chance of a result.
And indeed they did find another gear, with Page going close with a header as they controlled more territory and possession, but the inevitable counter-attack from Heybridge saw Phillips make an outstanding point-blank save in the 54th, and with the hosts now starting to run the clock down in any way they could, the pressure was now on Frome to make something happen.
Jackson was inaccurate with a shot in the 63rd following a Davies free kick, and Page should really have hit the target from 12 yards out in the 71st, but his deflected shot a minute later brought an excellent tip round the post from Sambridge, who could do nothing to prevent Hemmings from tapping home at the far post from the resulting corner to level the tie.
Unfortunately, the prospect of a Wednesday replay at Frome only lasted for two minutes as Heybridge came straight back and after a rasping shot was hit low across the Frome area, Sam Bantick was on hand to tap home at the far post and put the onus back on Frome to score again.
With Marcus Mapstone now playing up front and left back Ben Withey replaced by winger Ollie Knight, Frome certainly went for the equaliser, but they failed to find a way through the home defence and Heybridge Swifts now look for a plum draw as the National League teams enter the competition.
Goalkeeper Kyle Phillips was awarded the H&B Tyres Man of the Match Award, with his saves keeping Frome in with a chance of a draw right up to the final whistle. Crowd: 244. Entertainment Value: 3/5
Reports by Colin Carpenter
