Evesham United 1 - 0 Frome Town

Frome Town fell to another poor result on the road, losing to Evesham United. A damaging defeat in which skipper Sam Teale was shown a straight red compounds their concerns. In a performance with few points of encorgament, Daniel Griffiths’ second-half header sealed what was a deserved victory for the hosts who dominated this Clash of the Robins and saw to it that the BA11 side would drop further down the table.

Kyle Phillips, so often the protagonist in Frome’s performances this season, was called into action straightaway. An early shout for a handball was adjudged to have occurred just outside the area, and Frome’s goalkeeper was alert to Adam Mace’s free-kick, diving to his right to make the save. Frome were living dangerously in the first fifteen minutes, home striker Kyle Belmonte hesitating and pushing his shot wide, before Owen James chipped over Phillips’ outstretched glove and Jordan Lymn tried his luck with a dipping effort, both efforts thwarted by the crossbar.

Evesham had also endured a poor run of form coming into this game, dropping to tenth after an encouraging start to the season and sitting four points behind the Frome. Their pressing too often proved hard to deal with, forcing the penned-in Frome defence to resort to long balls and lose possession. By half-time the visitors had weathered the early storm, keeping the Worcestershire outfit goalless, but energy levels were at best flat and at worst lacking altogether. The inability to create opportunities meant that debutant Jamarni Langlais, a young striker on loan from Bristol Rovers, was given little chance to show his quality on the ball. His exposure to senior football at this level consisted of being clattered and sat on by a shrewd Evesham defence.

The second half saw new midfielder Tyson Pollard substituted for Laurent Davis-Wilson, but the presence of two attacking focal points did little to remedy Frome’s creative woes. Though there was improvement after the break, Frome’s chances of victory were extinguished with just over twenty minutes to play. Dan Griffiths’ run into the box to head in Jordan Lymn’s intelligent cross was immediately followed by the dismissal of Sam Teale minutes later. Having received a booking in the first half for disputing a decision. the captain’s needless challenge inside the Evesham half saw him receive a second yellow. His early departure from the pitch summed up a senseless showing by the visitors across the ninety minutes.

Danny Greaves and his coaching staff will again be left frustrated at the repeated inadequacies of what is a strong team on paper. An early kick-off and a long trip against one of the better sides in the division undoubtedly poses challenges, but it is not unreasonable to assume that the BA11 side would be able to overcome these hurdles. The inability to hold the ball in possession let alone create chances is a growing concern and the goal of promotion has faded in a matter of months. That glorious afternoon in August and the early-season optimism when George Rigg’s header sealed three points against the same opposition at Badgers Hill feels an age ago. Frome will drop out of the division’s play-off spots for the first time since September after a fourth defeat in six league games. The topsy-turvy, helter-skelter nature of things is a given in this division and, indeed, every football fan’s weekend-to-weekend existence. All associated with the club, players, manager, staff and, crucially, the BA11 support, will need to pull together if the current trend is to be reversed. Commitment and loyalty to the Frome Town cause must be the focus starting with next weekend’s league fixture away at second-placed Wimborne.

Match report and live updates by Zeb Baker-Smith