Frome Town continued their impressive form, earning a well-deserved point against second placed AFC Totton at the Snows Stadium. Fresh off a morale-boosting victory over Winchester City last weekend, the Robins returned to Hampshire and delivered another fine performance in a county that’s become a bit of a happy place for them as of recent days.
Rex Mannings found the back of the net once again with a composed finish in the 64th minute, before the Stags responded almost immediately through Ethan Taylor.
Despite the gulf in league positions and budgets, the BA11 outfit more than held their own throughout the contest, and it would have been hard for neutrals to believe there was such discrepancy between the two sides.
Frome began the contest in a disciplined and cautious manner, restricting the hosts to speculative efforts from long-range as Danny Greaves men looked to soak up some early pressure.
The game did eventually open up in the 23rd minute when Taylor broke forward for the hosts, finding himself one-on-one with Matt Wood, however after taking it onto his left foot, he dragged an effort wide of the right hand post.
Moments later the visitors created their first proper chance of the game when Archie Ferris met a free-kick ,but he couldn’t generate the power to trouble Ryan Gosney, who comfortably kept his header out.
A defensive mix-up then nearly gifted Frome an opening in the 38th minute, but neither Albie Hopkins or Ferris could beat Ben Jefford to the ball and the defender was able to clear.
The hosts best spell of the half came in the last five minutes of the opening 45, but poor finishing let them down. Tony Lee headed Tom Blair’s cross just wide in the 42nd minute, before Charlie Austin pulled an effort from 25 yards out wide of the post a minute later and even though the Stags ended the half strongly, Frome nearly took the lead with the last kick of the half, when Ferris headed a free-kick back across goal to Warren Maidment, the centre-half spun and fired home, but was unfortunately denied by the assistants flag.
Things were all square at the break, Frome’s resilience had paid off so far, but the main aim was still to return to Somerset with all three points, so they came out the second half and showed a bit more attacking intent.
A setback came in the 54th minute when Ferris was forced with an ankle injury, but his replacement Curtis Hutson, ran the Totton defence ragged and nearly put his side a goal up in the 64th minute when he found himself through down the left, he was denied by Gosney, with Hopkins’ follow-up cleared off the line.
From the resulting corner, the ball fell to Mannings in the box and on the turn, he fired into the bottom corner. However the celebrations were short lived, as almost instantly Taylor got in behind the defence and put the Stags level with a cool finish past Phillips.
Momentum suddenly swung the way of the hosts and Frome had to dig deep. Wingbacks Ethan Vaughan and Joe O’Loughlin did an excellent job of limiting Totton’s wide threat, whilst the three centre backs Pierce Mitchell, Maidment and Wood did a fantastic job of dealing with the few crosses that did their way into the box.
As the game headed for a draw, six additional minutes were shown on the board, and that gave Totton renewed energy, as they relentlessly knocked on Frome’s door, who had ultimately settled for a point at this stage.
They say in football you always get one more chance and that is what happened with Totton. Nearly 100 minutes had been played when a corner was swung in and somehow kept out by a combination of Phillips and Alex Monks before a free-kick was given, another excellent bit of defensive play that epitomised Frome’s grit and determination, fully justifying the point they earned on the night.
It doesn’t get much easier for the Robins, as they face 3rd placed Gloucester City on Saturday, but today’s result proves Danny Greaves men are more than capable of competing with the biggest and best teams in this league.
Match report and live updates by Harrison Richards
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Well done Harrison – the young man with the gravelly voice. - that’s a mighty fine match report.
Our best result of the season and further evidence that we are indeed on the rise at The Hill. Totton may well pay their players seven times more than we can pay ours but it’s amazing what we get for an outlay of £5 an hour plus a shower and match day programme.
Up next Gloucester City (third), who have only lost 3 games all season and drew at Merthyr recently. They have also drawn and beaten Totten. It has the makings of a really good game and could attract our biggest gate of the season, beating – 738 against Taunton?
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