Frome Town Ladies travelled to third-placed Burnham on Sea on a wet and windy Sunday, looking to keep their unbeaten run intact.
Burnham looked strong from the start but an unfortunate slip by the home keeper on 2 minutes allowed the alert Christmas to nip in to steal Frome’s 1st. Burnham came back at Frome strongly from the restart, forcing Restorick into an impressive double save with the resulting corner also claimed calmly by the visiting keeper.
Frome soon doubled their lead when Isaacson’s strong shot got parried into the path of Christmas who calmly collected her second of the game. Frome, now clearly in the driving seat, found their passing game and on 14 minutes Petteford fed Seviour down the right for her to deliver a pinpoint ball across the 6 yard box for the incoming Isaacson to convert at the back post.
The blustery conditions led to a scruffy hard-fought battle for the rest of the half, with the only notable chances falling to Christmas to notch up her hat trick running in one-on-one but the home keeper saved well. The resulting corner was met by the ever young Perkins, but her header narrowly cleared the bar.
Burnham knew they needed an early goal from the restart and pushed forward straight from the whistle, giving Frome problems but the watchful Restorick between the sticks made a couple of vital saves at key moments to nullify the thoughts of a Burnham come back. But on 70 minutes ,the Burnham number 10 struck an unstoppable free kick from just outside the box, 3-1!
Frome to their credit stepped up a gear and within a minute the tireless Christmas headed the ball up in the box and then finished her own assist for her hatrick. That should have been all over for Burnham but they still pushed forward and kept going, earning another free kick just outside the area. Up stepped their number 10 to try her luck again, but this time Restorick pulled off a great save low to her right to keep the final score to 4-1.
Another good team result on the road for Frome, but the score line might not give a fair indication of Burnham’s efforts going forward in the game and Frome’s defensive qualities throughout the team in tricky weather conditions.
The player of the match chosen by the travelling supporters could have gone to any of the defenders, but for her tireless work rate and hatrick, Christmas edged it.
Next week the ladies take on Wellington at Badgers Hill at 2pm – be there!
Report: Kev Restorick.
