Sat. 29th Dec. Evo-Stik Southern Premier Frome Town 1 Tiverton 3
After Tiverton had taken the lead right on the stroke of half, the visitors then dominated the second half, scored two more goals and only heroics from Frome keeper James Carey kept the scoreline down, before Kris Scott grabbed a consolation goal right at the end.
After a couple of good wins and a narrow defeat by Merthyr on Boxing Day, hopes were fairly high for this match against Tiverton Town, who sat a few points above Frome in the league table. But with both Connor Roberts and Kris Miller having picked up injuries in that match, the side had to be re-shuffled, and Sam Teale moved to right back with Ricky Scott at left back and Ollie Knowles slotting in at centre back alongside Marcus Mapstone.
The pitch looked heavy and both sides took a while to adjust, with Tiverton the first to show right from the start as Mike Landricombe volleyed over the bar following a free kick. Frome replied in the 11th as Teale made a great overlapping run on the right before pulling back a cross that set up a shooting chance for Johnny Gorman that was blocked.
With most of the play in midfield, neither side really took control and chances were few and far between with speculative long range efforts the order of the day. But then Tiverton broke in numbers in the 27th and after a flowing move, had Frome defenders back pedalling frantically. James Carey brought off his first excellent save of the day as he tipped over a fierce drive from right back Josh Key.
After veteran striker Stewart Yetton had earned a yellow for a foul on Carey in the 33rd, he ghosted between two defenders in the 42nd, but a weakly-struck shot was well saved by Carey as it looked to be heading just inside the far post.
Frome had probably just about had the better of it at this stage, but all the good work was undone in the 45th minute as an innocuous-looking Levi Landricombe free kick from the middle of the Frome half found Jamie Price totally unmarked on the left side of the box and he had time to wait for the ball to drop and float a header back into the path of veteran striker Stewart Yetton, who made no mistake from close range to give Tiverton a 1-0 lead at half time.
Whatever happened at half time seemed to suit Tiverton well, as they took total control of the game right from the start of the second half. Carey saved a low Hall shot in the 49th, and then he pulled off an unbelievable save a minute later as Levi Landricombe slid in and hit a shot that was heading for the top corner.
At the other end, Kris Scott finished well from a tight angle only to have his effort disallowed by a linesman’s flag. It was only a brief respite in the Tiverton dominance of possession and territory, and with Carey being kept by far the busier of the two keepers, Tiverton doubled their lead in the 65th as Yetton swooped onto a suicidal back pass and had the experience to make ground and find Levi Landricombe, who curled the ball into the top corner to make it 2-0 to the visitors.
The game was done and dusted in the 70th minute as Frome committed too many players up for a corner. Tiverton broke in numbers and the speedy left back, Callum Hall, finished at his second attempt after Carey had saved the first.
Tiverton were able to ring the changes at this point, but it made little difference and Carey again pulled off a great save to deny a towering header from Jamie Price. However at the other end, a good Ryan Bath run and shot brought a good save from Liam Armstrong, and Frome did pull back a consolation goal in the 85th as Scott headed in from close range after a good Tom Meyhew run to make it 3-1.
To cap an excellent personal game, Carey then saved a penalty from Levi Landricombe in the 89th after the striker had been fouled inside the box by the despairing leg of Ricky Scott. But Frome’s form is not convincing at the moment and the way Tiverton were able to so easily take control of the second half with little trouble is a worry.
Frome’s man of the match was, unsurprising, chosen as James Carey, who had a great day between the sticks.
