The women started the new year with a tricky away fixture on a 3G pitch against Swindon Spitfire ladies. The home side started brightly testing Frome’s defensive abilities and the whole team stood firm for the 1st 20 minutes restricting Swindon to speculative efforts from distance. Frome began to grow into the game and started to play on the break and put Swindon’s keeper under pressure with some persistent running in behind the home defence by the ever willing Christmas but the final ball in just favoured the keeper with a touch too much on it. Right on 25 minutes a neat move by Frome down the right ended with the ball cut back to Bristow on the edge of the box, who swept home expertly 1st time to put Frome 1 up. Swindon didn’t take long to get back on level terms and within 5 minutes their dangerous play maker no 10 sweetly struck home a top corner effort leaving Restorick no chance. With only 5 minutes to half time Frome found themselves behind for the 1st time in the game when Swindon’s no 17 engineered herself a yard of space in the box and fired another top bins effort in.
The 2nd half began with Frome still not firing on all cylinders but 10 minutes in started to cause Swindon’s defence a few problems with Christmas and McGregor threatening to get in on goal. The game continued to swing back and fourth with Swindon testing Restorick in goal with plenty of efforts and with both teams sensing there were more goals to come. On 73 minutes Mist drive forward down the right beating 3 players to jink into the box and unselfishly cut the ball back to Petteford who kept her head and side footed into the bottom corner nicely. The rest of the game Swindon threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Frome but the stubborn midfield, defence and keeper all stepped up to keep them at bay.
Supporters player of the match was awarded to Charley Ratcliffe for her heroic defending throughout the game against a very tricky and pacy Swindon attack.
Manager Justin Paget commented After a couple of poor pre Christmas results, we bounced back today against the league leaders. Working hard throughout the team deserved a 2-2 draw which still leaves us second in the league on goal deference. With players still unavailable today due to holidays & injury extremely pleased with the way we played.
Next week see’s the Ladies back at home 2pm to take on Swindon Supermarine looking to reverse the narrow 3-2 defeat from earlier in the season. Come along all support welcome!
Match report by Kev Restorick Pictures by Lisa Christmas
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