A Goal-less draw helped Frome edge closer out of the relegation zone.
The Robins first defeat of the year on Saturday against Sholing 3-0 meant that a bounce back was needed for Danny Greaves' side in Somerset. With Dugan and Heal coming into the side with Joe O’Loughlin not in the traveling squad, whereas Budd fills up the bench.
The first half came with several long throws from defender Warrant Maidment, flinging the ball into the box from all angles of the 18-yard box. The third attempt by the defender led to the first shot of the game for the Dodge lead, also coming from Maidment, his effort hit the wrong side of the side netting.
Chances were coming thick and fast from players in various positions. Skipper Teale had a shot from the edge of the box which was parried away from Taunton’s No1.
Albie also took aim from a distance which was wide of the right frame of the goal.
It took 30 minutes for the Peacocks to have their first shot on target, but nothing to trouble experienced goalkeeper Kyle Phillips, who had the ball straight into his gloves.
Time went quickly at Woodsworth Drive as 2 minutes were added, but Taunton’s man between the sticks Gould went to ground, meaning there was a brief stoppage in play which led to the additional minutes wasted.
The second half got underway, and it only took 5 minutes from the restart for fullback Sam Heal to be given a booking for a challenge he made on the Claret and Blue Attacker.
Plenty of half-hearted forward attacks for the visiting side, which didn’t lead to much, but meant that Luffman made a triple substitution to reverse the pressure back onto Greaves with his fresh legs.
Vaughan created enemies on the pitch this evening as he went past his marker Owen Brain, but the number ten took his anger out of him, which deservedly got him on the books with Heal.
Phillips was called into action at various times in this fixture. At the time, an hour of play, Purrington’s header wasn’t enough to break the deadlock with Kyle getting a glove on the ball, giving away a corner.
5 mins later, Hopkins’s perfect cross landed minutes in the centre, needing Gould to make a rapid save over the bar.
The Visitors had the biggest chance of the game when Hopkins was through on goal but was brought down, with referee Jake Woollery having no choice but to give Frome a penalty, their first this season!
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for the Robins, as Albie Hopkins stepped up, it was a simple save for Gould, yet the rebound also gave no luck to both Albie and Frome.
Greaves took his time with his substitutions, taking 79 minutes for the first switch; Dugan off and Curtis Hutson on.
One of the key players for Frome this evening, Sam Heal, with his pace and being able to slot into positions on his left flank, gave him a few chances late on but nothing for the scores to change.
The second and final sub for the away side came in the 92nd minute, meaning boss Danny Greaves wanted to see it out for a point. Joe Budd was coming on, with the sub board shown around the ground. Fans were confused to see why the number nine of Curtis Hutson was in red yet being put on 13 minutes prior with no injury woes.
Once again, Phillips was needed vitally one last time. Corner crossed into the penalty area, the Robins just wanting to clear this attack away and keep their vital point away from home. A perfectly timed header from Nicholas Grimes which looked to be heading its way into the top left-hand corner, but Kyle Phillips, out of nowhere, created a magnificent dive to his left to stop an almost certain goal for the Peacocks.
As the 90 minutes ended, there was a disagreement with the substituted man for the home side. Ollie Drewsbury was given a second yellow card for dissent. Yet blowing the final whistle, the official for the match still put Drewsbury in the books for the second time of the evening.
Match report and live updates by Thomas Groves
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Albert Quixall, John Salako and Wojciech Szczęsny are just a few of the names that crop up in this week's episode. Steve & Zeb also chat with backup keeper Seb Tylek.
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Yet another near perfect performance from the lads. Another clean sheet and once more it could have been three. Albie’s penalty was too near the keeper – Joshua Gould, (who Taunton fans believe to be the best in the league, (I did argue a case for Kyle of course) and with the rebound at his mercy, Albie could only head it straight at the keeper. There were a couple of other half chances that went begging too.
Frome just edged the first 45 and then were well on top for the first 20 of the second half, fizzing many crosses into the danger zone. We played some lovely football and used our wide players to the maximum. Taunton put us…