Frome overcame local rivals Paulton Rovers in the FA Cup Preliminary round thanks to a strong second half performance at Badgers Hill.
Goals from Jon Davies and James Ollis in the final quarter of an hour secured a place in the first qualifying round of the world’s oldest cup competition.
The Robins made a bright start to proceedings, capped off by a fantastic goal from Rex Mannings. The forward acrobatically finished a cross from Martin Lenihan to score his first goal of the new season and bring our goal of the season competition to an early finish.
Mannings was lively throughout the opening stages, playing Kane Simpson through on goal only for the striker to be denied by a smart stop from visiting goalkeeper Aaron Sainsbury.
Paulton took control of possession as they searched for an equaliser but a makeshift Robins backline that was without both Marcus Mapstone and Warren Maidment stood firm and offered ample protection for James Carey in goal.
They did find a breakthrough just after half-time though, with a fantastic curling free-kick from Edward Butcher finding the top corner of Carey’s net.
Frome responded excellently with Matt Smith forcing Sainsbury into an incredible save from point-blank range before Simpson struck the foot of the Paulton post.
The Robins pressure did eventually tell. Jon Davies strode clear from the halfway line and slotted the ball into the back of the net to follow up his brace at Plymouth Parkway in midweek.
As the visitors threw more and more bodies forward in search of an equaliser, gaps began to appear for Frome to exploit.
James Ollis did so with devastating effect, running onto a pass from Mannings before finishing expertly as Sainsbury came out to meet him.
With a place in the next round secured, the Robins return to league action next weekend with a home fixture against Slimbridge.
Great win against an in form side.