Frome Town’s winning streak was brought to a halt as they suffered defeat against playoff chasing Bracknell Town, ending a run of four straight wins for Danny Greaves men.
Goals from Max Herbert and Jack Matton in the first half put the Berkshire based side in a commanding position, before Archie Ferris halved the deficit with his third goal in a Frome shirt. However the game got away from the visitors in the second half, as Haydon Vaughan and Gabe George added a third and fourth, ensuring the battle of the Robins for the second time this season.
Greaves made several changes to the side that thad thrashed Plymouth Parkway 5-0 on boxing day, with absentees forcing a reshuffled back three of Warren Maidment, Joe Budd and Joe O’Loughlin. Sam Heal slotted in at left wing back, whilst Callum Gould made his first start for the club.
The BA11 side started positively, with Heal making an early impact down the left, he fired an early cross in, which was too high for Ferris, but showed good intent early on. However, after a positive start for the away side it was Bracknell who struck first, in the 9th minute following a mistake at the back it allowed Herbert to pounce and fire past Kyle Phillips from close range
The visitors responded well, creating a half chance for James Ollis, who opted to shoot rather than pass, and saw his effort blocked. Then in the 19th minute, Ethan Vaughan’s throw-in bobbled nicely into the path of the in-form Albie Hopkins who attempted to fire fist time on the half volley but had to watch his effort nearly sail out for a throw-in.
It felt as though Frome were getting on top but due to a lack of height and experience in the side it cost them a second goal, this time from a corner in the 26h minute as Matton found himself free at the back-post to nod past Phillips.
However just seven minutes later, the Somerset Robins found themselves back in the game as Hopkins pin point cross was glanced home by Ferris, another instinctive finish from a man who clearly knows where the back of the net is.
There wasn’t a lot of action in the remainder of the half, the hosts were content to keep the ball and go into the break a goal up, and with a chance to reset they certainly used it to their advantage.
Just seven minutes into the half they added a third goal after Joel Rollinson’s cross was met with a powerful header by Vaughan, leaving Phillips no chance.
It wasn’t for a lack of effort but Frome really failed to get anything going at any point during the second half, as the hosts quality shone through, the closest the travellers came was in the 69th minute when following a long ball, Ollis’ initial strike was somehow saved by Michael Eacott, but then even more miraculously, the rebound was turned off the line.
The BA11 side continued to throw men forward in an effort to get a goal back, but were undone in the 88th minute as Dan Roberts beat two men before putting it on a plate for George to slot into an empty net, succumbing Frome to their first loss since the 30th of November.
The fixtures are coming thick and fast now, and the focus shifts to our Somerset rivals Taunton Town on news year day, a chance to start the year on a positive note and we’ll need your support once again to help us over the line.
Match report and live updates by Harrison Richards
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Bracknell were always going to be a difficult game, having been so disciplined at The Hill earlier in the season, and so it proved. It’s a blip and not unexpected in this very tough and unrelenting league. Bracknell move up to 6th, though still 7 points off the play offs. The Robins remain one off the bottom 4 points from safety.
Three of our centre backs were out today - Teale & Mitchell & Woody, it looks as if that may have been a factor? This was also a very tough debut for Callum Gould - to step up two levels and play here. Sam Heal last played 90 minutes in early September but did get a half at Bath…