Tues 22nd Mar. Somerset Premier Cup Semi-final. Att: 591 Frome 1 Bath City 2
FROME exited the Somerset Premier Cup at the semi-final stage after being defeated by local rivals Bath City at Badgers Hill.
A first-half brace from Romans’ forward Cody Cooke set the visitors up for victory, and even though Rex Mannings pulled a goal back early in the second period, it was not enough to keep the Robins in the competition.
The visitors from two divisions above applied plenty of early pressure, and they were unfortunate not to take the lead in the opening minutes when defender Jack Batten headed against the post from a corner.
Frome were by no means overawed by their opponent’s bright start though, and after finding a foothold in the game midway through the half they very nearly took the lead when a well-worked team move ended with Mannings whistling a shot past the post from the edge of the box.
A series of long-throws from former Robin Joe Raynes caused considerable issues for a Frome defence that was without either Sam Teale or Mike Baker, but the home side managed to hold out until just before the interval. A brief lapse in concentration allowed Alex Fletcher to break down the left flank and cross for striker Cooke to head home from close range in the 43rd minute.
Cooke doubled his tally for the evening in first-half stoppage time, finding himself in the right place at the right time to get on the end of a cut-back from strike partner Dave Sims-Burgess.
A lively start to the second half saw the Robins take the initiative from the restart, and they were rewarded for their efforts just before the hour mark when Mannings scored on the rebound after Kane Simpson had been kept out by Bath ‘keeper Ryan Clarke.
Jon Davies was summoned from the substitutes’ bench not long after the goal, and he very nearly set up Mannings to level the scores with one of his first contributions, only for Raynes to make an excellent recovery challenge to halt the move.
A Davies free-kick that found the head of James Ollis then forced Clarke into action with just over 10 minutes left to play as the Robins continued to press for parity.
Goalkeeper Seth Locke still had to remain focused at the other end though, as an Omar Holness effort from range required his attention just moments later.
Despite forcing the issue until the very end, Frome were unable to find the equaliser that would have taken the game to extra-time meaning it was Bath who advanced to the final.
