Saturday 22nd April. Southern League Division 1. Tavistock AFC 4 – 3 Frome Town
Frome Town lost a thrilling 4-3 encounter to Tavistock and, heartbreakingly, fell short of fifth-spot and an opportunity for promotion after results went against them elsewhere in the division.
Both sides required victory and an extraordinary period of 15 minutes in the first half reflected this do-or-die attitude. Goals from Sam Meakes, Jono Davies and Alex Monks meant the Robins were always within touching distance. However, a shock 3-2 win for Evesham over champions AFC Totton meant that the result was ultimately inconsequential and an Alex Battle winner consigned the BA11 side to an eighth-place finish.
The final act in this the last day of an electrifying 22/23 season saw Frome still in the hunt. In what could be considered the clash of the weekend in the division, both teams had a shot of making the cut if they could get a win.
Swarms of Frome fans had made the long journey to West Devon more in hope than expectation, but the numbers suggested there was clear belief.
Frome took the lead when Jono Davies and Owen Humphries manoeuvred the attack down the left, the latter’s dink into the box found striker Sam Meakes to slot home.
The home side equalised in style on the 15-minute mark through Eddie Harrison and just six minutes later, Harrison turned provider, his dash down the right allowing him to cross accurately and Tom Burns to finish.
The Lambs’ third was struck by Liam Prynn soon after, the top scorer in the division this season. Tavistock’s quick free kick found the Frome back line napping and the striker found no difficulty in slotting the ball home.
Frome’s seventh game in April seemed was one too many for the visitors, but Jono Davies was not to be outdone, his turn-and-shot curling in and clipping the post before the ball dropped into the back of the net to restore the Robins’ hopes.
Alex Monks headed in at the front post from a corner for a deserved Robins’ equaliser but against the run of play, Tavistock soon went ahead, their fourth a deflected goal from Battle and a bitter knock to Frome’s play-off dreams as the defenders’ stunned heads fell.
Frome lacked late inspiration for the most part, faced by staunch defending from their hosts. Paulton’s injury-time winner at home to Bashley added to these wildest of dreams, but ten-men Evesham’s second-half comeback and late winner mean the ‘other’ Robins will be the recipients of the final play-off semi-final spot.
In contrast to Tuesday’s elated applause of the travelling fans, there was a distinct sense of what- might- have-been, a wistful air as the players acknowledged those who had made the long trip down to Devon.
The narrow defeats near-misses and dropped points, Rusher’s hitting the bar against Bashley, the two-goal lead over Larkhall at home squandered, those incidents will haunt Frome fans over the summer break. But the last couple of months, those consecutive victories, Davies’ winner and subsequent supporter love-in on Easter Monday, Graham’s penalty and the salvage job to spoil the Totton party, moments when players have stuck their hands up and demonstrated the required dedication and determination, those will be the touchstones when the Robins go again.
Match report by Zeb Baker-Smith
