With a weekend without a match for Frome Town Women and a respectful nod to the Men's team playing on Wednesday earlier in the week, Wonder Woman Wednesdays comes to you on Sunday this week!
This edition features:
Match report: FTW v Purton Ladies
Paying tribute to Sam Oatley
Bingo evening thank you
Up next - Purton V FTW away
New fixture
Our new walk out song!
Match report: Frome Town Women 1 - Purton FC Ladies 2
Sunday 14 January 2024: Report written by Ryan Atkins and Ben Bolland.
Frome Town Women fell to a very narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Purton, at Badgers Hill in the South Western Regional Womens League, Eastern Division.
On a cold afternoon, with low winter sun, Frome started very strongly with Harris intercepting a ball to a Purton defender and smashing a shot from a tight angle wide of the post.
As the first half went on though, the visitors settled down and began to show the experience and organisation that has seen them have a good start in the regional league. Purton soon went close with Perkins clearing one off the line, on a day with minimal chances for both sides.
The Frome defence of Whisstock, Ratcliffe Didymus and Perkins batted hard at the back with Starr and Underhill impressing in midfield to protect the defence.
Purton FC scored their first goal from a break in the first half when a long ball upfield missed Perkins head and the Purton attacker pounced on the ball and smashed it past Billet.
The rest of the half was seen out with mainly midfield action. The start of the second half was similar as Frome introduced Wyatt, Eden and then Restorick to the game.
Then with 20 minutes to go Purtons number 4 headed home a corner from the right to double their lead.
During the final 20 minutes, the bench was used effectively to put the opposition under pressure, with Ham coming on and Frome changing their approach, building more opportunities in the Purton half. This paid off when Underhill won a free kick in the 91st minute, which the captain then took from 25 yards out, to slot in past the keeper for a late goal for Frome, in another tight game.
Keira-Leigh Underhill Frome Town Women Captain said: "After a great training session midweek our confidence was at an all time high and we took that into this match. It was a much improved performance and I think we were very unlucky not to come away with at least a share of the points. I’m proud of the whole team and can't wait to take on Purton again in a couple of weeks time."
Ben Bolland Frome Town Women Manager said: "Close game today against a very strong and experienced side. Really brave second half with some excellent performances. Look forward to playing Purton again in two weeks time."
Frome Town Women pay tribute to Sam Oatley
It was a sombre week for football in Frome, which saw the sudden and unexpected passing of Frome Town United Coach Sam Oatley. Frome Town Women paid tribute to the Frome Town United coach, Sam with a minutes applause at the game against Purton.
Our love, thoughts and best wishes are with Caroline, Edward, Ethan and Lewis and wider family.
Frome Town Women Bingo Night
To beat the January blues, on the 12 January, Frome Town Women hosted our first fund raiser of the season in the form of a bingo evening. The evening was a huge success, attracting over 100 bingo players to the Badgers Hill Clubhouse and raising over £1500 for the team. This is massive for the team as we are an independently run community asset, entirely funded by sponsors, grants and ourselves.
A big shout out and thanks to those who generously supported our event including:
Local businesses:
G08 @ FTU
Castellos
Codswallop
Choc et al
ECH Nails
E Williams Butchers
Flowbar
J Cayford Butchers
Funways
Mendip Activity Centre
Thai Spice
Westways Cinema
Winstone’s Books
As well as personal donations from Players and committee members at Frome Town Women and supporters Rachel Carpenter & Emma Durdy - with special mention to Chairman Tim Vine who donated the Prizes for the two bingo flyers.
Up next:
With no game this week Frome are back in action away to Purton on 28th January.
In other fixture news
Frome Women have been drawn at home against Shaftesbury Ladies in the first round of the League Cup which will take place on Sunday 3rd March. The home game against Stockwood Wanderers will now take place on March 17th.
And finally…
Previously, Frome Town Women have walked onto the pitch to ‘A town called malice’ by The Jam. It’s a fantastic and rousing song, conveying a “sense of pent-up rage and frustrated ambition” written about Woking by Paul Weller in 1981.
This week however we have decided to change our song and the messages we wish to convey – Frome Town Women’s new walk out song will be Shania Twain’s “Man! I feel like a woman!"
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