After four consecutive draws in a row for the Robins in the league, Frome switches to domestic cup action as Mendip Broadwalk headed to Badgers Hill after being rearranged for the 3rd time in the space of a month.
Danny Greaves decided to rest some of the key players with six changes in the starting 11, including a Seb Tylek start, a regular in this competition between the sticks.
After switching ends, the Robins first felt how to cope and manage with the pitch conditions after the groundsmen had been working on this pitch since 10am that morning due to the heavy rainfall overnight.
However, the first big chance of the game went to the visitors as they thrived on the conditions. A low driven cross near the corner flag, no defensive player could get a foot on it, which meant that Hughes was able to take a strike against Tylek but was saved by the frame of the goal.
17 was on the clock, and the Dodge’s skipper, Sam Teale, was limbering with some sort of discomfort, enough for him to leave the field of play. For 3 minutes, the home side were playing with 10 men, but reinforcements were made as Pierce Mitchell came on.
Not far after, the deadlock was broken by talisman James Ollis. After missing out on illness the past week, he’s come back with a bang as Curtis Hutson’s lofted cross was met with a perfectly timed header into the bottom right corner, his eighth of the season.
After scoring one, there was no going back for the Robins. Vaughan’s classy cross was met once again on James Ollis’s head, but this time, Britton made a vital stop to keep it 1-0.
Just shy of 6 mins later, Archie Ferris doubled the lead; the forward was set up perfectly for him not to miss as Ollis laid off a simple pass round the Mendip defender, leading to Ferris tapping home another goal.
Last chance of the half went to the underdogs this time, with some impressive passing on the left wing from Mendip offering a chance for Biggins to take aim, but the man on a dual registration loan with Bradford Town made a simple diving stop to keep the scoreline 2-0 to the Robins at halftime.
The second half started with 2 substitutions for the home side, as it was clear Danny Greaves wanted to rest both Ferris and Monks, with Hopkins and Dugan coming on.
Mendip came out looking to get back into the game as Cousins fired from aim, needing Tylek to make an important stop, earning himself the man of the match.
Right after that attack, the Dodge wrapped up the game with a 3rd goal of the evening, coming from top goal scorer Albie Hopkins, a dominant display for the forwards this evening, and it clearly paid off, with some tricky footwork from James Ollis putting Albie through on goal and placing the shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
Two more switches for the Robins with Ollis and Maidment off, replaced by Mannings and Murchison, his first appearance this year.
It could have easily been four at Badgers Hill with Dugan being played through on goal, but the Mendip Broadwalk defender lunged into the ball out of nowhere to stop an almost certain goal.
As the 90 minutes were into the books, this quarterfinal tie was wrapped up with ease for the Somerset side this evening.
Listen to the latest episode of the Dodge The Question podcast!
Recorded at Badgers Hill either side of the Frome Town FC v Gosport Borough FC game on Tuesday night. Guests include Callum Gould and Geoff & Gerry Urch.
You can also listen on Frome.FM radio every Friday at 5pm (repeated on Saturday 3pm)
Secure your entry and make the most of hospitality packages for all of our games at Badgers Hill on the Fanbase app and website!
Before the game the south-east corner of the ground was flooded and our trusty Chairman (Super Del) and his crew somehow manage to clear it with buckets etc.! Otherwise this would have been another postponement.
It was another polar-esque evening when scarves, gloves & Long Johns were the order of the day. The game attracted a moderate attendance of 207.
As expected The Robins were far too strong for Mendip Broadway who play three tiers below us.
Their chairman asked Frome for a signed shirt by all our players – as this was the biggest game in their brief history. How nice was that?
I am pleased to say that Mendip played very well, bringing two very fine saves from…