Frome Town endured another punishing defeat, this time at the hands of fellow league strugglers Tiverton Town.
It’s been an awkward first month of the season for both sides, having before today, combined for just six league goals whilst shipping 25, attesting to why both sides were, and still are, in the relegation zone.
Both sides however, would have looked at this game as a chance to get their respective season’s back on course, although The Robins track record against The Yellows, would not be what you’d want to read before a vital game like this, losing 19 times out of our last 21 meetings and having to date back to 1981 for our last victory over the Devon based side.
In other words it’s the ultimate bogey side we’d have to overcome if we wanted to jump out the drop zone and start climbing the table, however the stats have now exacerbated, due to second half strikes from Joshua Jones and Matthew Britton, with Marcus Day’s late strike not enough to salvage a point.
The desire and work-rate was certainly there in the first-half from the team, although that’s the least you’d except after such a dismal display just three days ago, Zak Drew, who was filling in the striker role due to the unavailabilities of Curtis Hutson and James Ollis, looked particularly lively in the early stages, putting an abundance of pressure on the visitors backline.
The first real chance did fall to the away side in the 16th minute, where Sam Teale had to be alert to block a shot from close range after Tiverton broke down the right hand side.
The defender then got involved in the action up the other end, connecting with Albie Hopkins free-kick but directing his effort wide of the right post.
The 33rd minute is where the game started to open up, Jones sent a long throw in and it somehow made it’s way to Joe Parker, who had all the time in the world to bring it down and fire towards goal but somehow couldn’t beat Kyle Phillips from close in.
A real let off for the hosts, but it gave us a counter chance, where we really should have taken the lead, after Joe O’Loughlin’s pull back deflected in to Drew’s path, who had so much time to work it on to his right foot, before seeing his strike bounce of the inside of the post and out, chances this season are few and far between, the one’s we do get we simply aren’t taking and at this level, if you don’t take your chances, it’s inevitable you’ll be punished.
The Devon based side then went close from a free-kick, it was floated towards the back post, with the attacker meeting it sweetly but heading over the bar, with the decision being given as a corner much to the disaccord of the players and management team.
The decision appeared to be a bit of a blessing in disguise however, as Phillips claimed with ease and sent a long ball up to Drew, not known for his heading, he attempted to flick it on but mistimed it, giving Niall Thompson the chance to head back to Fiachra Pagel, though it was flimsy, giving Hopkins a chance to storm in, sliding in winning the ball, but out of control as he watched it roll wide of the post.
The second half saw Frome come out on the back foot, a mistake in the 49th gave Tiverton a golden chance but Pierce Mitchell was alert to pull off a magnificent block to keep the scores level, with the follow up effort from Jevan Wright being smashed in to the side netting.
O’Loughlin then went close ten minutes later, up the other end he received it down the cutting across the ball, he arrowed an effort just wide of the right post, but it showed Frome were capable of creating chances.
Then just two minutes later, Jones put the visitors in the lead, a consummate effort from the Welshman, as he stormed past numerous Frome defenders, cutting inside and curling a shot past the outstretched Phillips, with a desolate feeling emerging around the ground after the goal.
The away side simply found it all a bit too easy after the interval, Theo Jeremy ran through the midfield like they weren’t even there in the 63rd minute and was unlucky to see his effort deflect just wide of the post.
Jeremy was once again at the forefront of the attack as O’Loughlin lost a battle in his own third, Jeremy found a way inside, firing a shot on his left foot which Phillips was equal to, keeping us in the game for now.
The second goal certainly felt like it was coming and although it had been far too easy for Tiverton in the second half, Matthew Britton wouldn’t have believed his luck when he got a free header from a corner, which he made no mistake in burying his effort.
One positive to take from the game was welcoming Jon Davies back to the pitch, he looked as good as he did last season as soon as he came on in the 78th minute and could have had a goal when fellow substitute Evra Yao attempted to slip through Drew, it didn’t quite reach him but it deflected in to Davies path, who forced a reactionary stop from Pagel.
Day managed to secure a consolation in the 90th minute, after bringing the ball down at the back post, he firing across goal finding the bottom corner, the strike provided a glimmer of hope, but even after a late flurry of chances, it wasn’t enough to claw a point back, but there can simply be no complaints with the end result.
It’s a return to FA Cup action on Saturday, as we face our good friends Larkhall Athletic in a Somerset derby, they’ll certainly fancy their chances and we need all the support we can get to earn our place in the hat for the next round.
Match report and live updates by Harrison Richards
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It’s pointless dwelling on the negatives of yet another damaging home defeat but the team at present simply do not look good enough for this level and Danny and his team are going to have to come up with a ‘miracle cure’ if this goes on much longer.
We haven’t beaten Tiverton for 40 years and if we had stayed out there for another 40, we still wouldn’t have beaten them!
Tiverton were once more clearly the better team of the two and had the Robins well in their sights by half time. By then, the feeling was that Tiverton were going to score... and sure enough, 15 minutes into the second it duly came – and no one in…