Frome Town were made to scrap in their A361 derby victory at Shepton Mallet. The pre-season friendly ended up being decided by Ross Staley’s volleyed finish after the Western League side took the lead a few minutes after half-time. Despite Mallet’s second goal coming with just over ten minutes to spare, Frome managed to preserve their lead and secure a third victory in four pre-season games.
Both sides started with ambitions to play attacking football. Shepton Mallet’s intensity belied their station two steps below the visitors and the home side looked sharp from the get-go in what was their final game before opening their league season next week against Portishead. Forward Marcus Day who shone in the front line across the ninety minutes walloped the crossbar in the first few minutes as Frome’s first foray into the final third nearly saw them take a lead.
There were chances aplenty as the rain hammered down in the opening half-hour. Frustration crept in among Frome ranks as an exasperated Danny Greaves called out his charges for ill-discipline when it came to their shape. Shepton found joy in sweeping long balls down the right and it was one of these sorties early in the second half that saw the Mallet take what was a deserved lead up until that point. Frome’s goalkeeper Kyle Phillips attempted to collect the ball at the edge of the box but the Shepton winger did well to square the ball and running in support, their midfielder struck it in first time before the keeper was able get back and attempt a save.
It was the spur that the Robins required. In the next ten minutes, James Ollis came inches away from heading in a sumptuous Reece Rusher cross from the right. The striker’s presence was industrious as ever - forever running and working hard. When he was toppled and Frome gained a free-kick just outside the box, Shepton failed to handle the delivery and the skipper, Sam Teale, booted his side level amid defensive disarray.
The visitors continued to push and took the lead via Marcus Day, whose outing against Clevedon means he has three goals in two appearances this week. Fellow signing Albie Hopkins had stormed down the flank and sent in a cross that deflected into Ross Staley’s path. Jepson in goal for the Mallet pulled off a smart save to deny the wing-back’s effort, but Day was there to clean up and secure the lead with fifteen minutes to play. The deficit was increase a couple of minutes later when Sam Heal’s cross, low and hard, was met emphatically by Staley, whose cameo off the bench saw him play further up the pitch, in the ‘pocket’, than supporters might have been accustomed.
This was hardly a vintage win, but a meaningful one by virtue of the fact that Danny Greaves’ side have got through two games against opposition who enjoy possession and push forward with the ball, today against Shepton Mallet and in midweek against Clevedon. More appreciable challenges lie ahead of the opening league game away at Gosport Borough on 10th August, starting with the trip to Westbury on Tuesday, but to have come out the right side of a highly competitive tussle will be invaluable for the squad.
Match report and live updates provided by Zeb Baker-Smith
Now the fixture list is out, don't miss the chance to take advantage of our Season Tickets which you can secure on the FanBase app and (link below) alongside admission to our pre-season friendlies at home against Bath City and Swansea City U21s!
Firstly, let me say how nice it was to see all the regular old codgers again and finally meet some of the more private but well known members of the club in Zeb & Juppy who do such a good job in their X & Report writing on our websites. It’s always nice to put a face to the name. It was good to spend some time too with one of our ever so friendly directors – David Parry, who I’ve already awarded the the ‘L & S P A’ for 2024 / 25. ( The Life and Soul of the Party Award).
Secondly, what a nice little club Shepton Mallet is with its parkesque look and feel and lovely…