Saturday 21st October Evo-Stik Southern Premier League Frome Town 1 Basingstoke 0

FROME scored with their first attack of the match as Mitchell Page notched his first of the season, and that proved to be the only goal of the game as both goalkeepers made crucial saves in a wind-affected match, that could easily  have ended as a high scoring draw.

Having won at Basingstoke on the opening day of the season, Frome were keen to try and score their first “double” of the season and improve on their home record, and with close to a full strength squad to choose from, the crowd were also looking forward to this one.

Storm Brian was obviously going to have an effect on this match, though thankfully the promised heavy rain held off and, with the wind direction tending to favour the side playing away from the clubhouse, Frome kicked off with the wind in their backs, knowing that the second half would prove to be harder than the first.

After a slightly ragged opening as both sides came to terms with the conditions, Frome took the lead in the 7th with their first real attack of the match as Ollie Knight did well on the left to feed the ball inside to Jon Davies, who then played a ball into the box aiming for Mitchell Page, but ending up several feet behind the striker. Page did well to react quickly and as he reached the ball with his back to goal, he was able to swivel and drill a right foot shot low into the corner from twelve yards out.

It could so easily have been 1-1 in the 14th as Frome failed to deal with a Basingstoke throw in, and after several missed clearances, Kyle Phillips did very well to save as Sam Argent turned and shot from close range as the visitors made good use of a spell of pressure.

However, Frome had a big chance to increase their lead in the 18th as Joe Raynes threaded a perfect through ball through a crowd of players to Jackson,who was only thwarted by a good brave save from Colm McAdden to dive well at his feet.

Frome now moved into the ascendency as first Knight brought a save from McAdden after being set up by Jackson, Davies did the same a few minutes later with a low shot following a mazy run and Page poked the ball into the keeper’s arms as Knight headed a Davies cross back to him.

McAdden produced a great point-blank save in the 39th as Jackson got on the end of a whipped-in Davies cross at the near post, and as Phillips again saved bravely at the feet of Argent, the very last kick of the first half saw the ball cannon back off the inside of the Basingstoke post, as Davies hit a left foot shot after being set up by Page.

At half time, it seemed inconceivable that the score would remain the same at ninety minutes, and with Basingstoke now having the conditions in their favour, they had two early chances as first Jack McKnight shot well wide from a good position, and then Argent tried to side foot the ball past Phillips, but failed to give the ball enough pace and the save was relatively easy.

As the game became an end-to-end affair, Marcus Mapstone volleyed over after a Davies free kick had been headed back by Chas Hemmings, Page was close to getting on the end of a Knight cross and Phillips made a regulation save from Dan Collier as a Basingstoke corner was whipped in.

Davies had a big chance to score Frome’s second in the 63rd as a back pass by Leslie Sackey was under hit and despite Davies normally being lethal from this position, McAdden eventually managed to smother the ball after the third attempt of frantic action.

As the match wore on however,  Frome seemed to move onto the back foot and Basingstoke looked far more likely to trouble the scorer, and they very nearly did in the 68th as a slick passing move carved open the home defence and once again Phillips made a very good save with his legs as substitute Sam Smart looked certain to score.

The final twenty minutes or so was a nervous time for the home fans as Basingstoke launched attack after attack, but if anything the wind was helping Frome a little as many of the through balls were being carried over the line by the strength of the wind and, surprisingly, there were few incidents of note in that last period, which ended with the somewhat welcome sound of the final whistle and three points for Frome.

Winger Ollie Knight was awarded the H&B Tyres Man of the Match Award for a useful performance wide on the left, which also saw him get through a lot of work covering back as Basingstoke went for the equaliser.