Frome lost their place at the top of the Southern League Division One South table after a 2-0 defeat to Cirencester Town at Badgers Hill on Saturday.
A first-half brace from Cirencester midfielder Nick Peare decided the contest and despite the Robins best efforts, they struggled to test visiting ‘keeper Alex Harris for much of the afternoon.
Even though Frome had started brightly, it was the away side who had the first chance of the game as Tom Anderson broke into the penalty area and was only denied by an excellent save from James Carey.
Cirencester went in front soon after when Peare found himself unmarked in the Frome penalty area from a wide free-kick and slid an effort into the bottom corner beyond Carey.
The goal rattled the home team’s early confidence, and they soon found themselves with even more work to do if they wanted to hold on to their place at the top of the league table.
When Joshua Grace-Parsons was brought down on the edge of the Frome penalty area just after the half-hour mark, Peare nonchalantly stepped up and placed the free-kick into the top corner of the net to double Cirencester’s lead.
The visitors approach to maintaining their lead was summed up by a 41st-minute yellow card for goalkeeper Alex Harris for time-wasting, but their excellent organisation combined with an ample amount of defensive discipline meant they saw out the second half.
The Robins huffed and puffed for most of the second period, but opportunities to reduce the deficit were few and far between.
Half-time substitute Matt Smith tested Harris from range just after the hour mark, and Jon Davies blazed over the crossbar after working himself a yard of space soon after, but a comeback never truly looked likely to materialize.
Harris was on hand to tip a Rex Mannings shot wide of goal in injury-time, and with that he secured the three points for Cirencester.
The result sees Cirencester take the Robins’ place at the top of the league table, although they have played a game more than Danny Greaves’ side.
Frome are back in league action next Saturday as they make the trip to Winchester City.
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