Frome Town began their Southern League Premier South campaign in style, defeating last year's play-off semi-finalists Gosport Borough at Privett Park.
New boy Curtis Hutson was on the scoresheet late in the second half, ensuring the Robins travelled back to Somerset with all three points.
Danny Greaves set out a familiar line-up, to what we’ve seen in pre-season, with the oh-so reliable trio of Sam Teale, Pierce Mitchell and Warren Maidment starting at the back, with new boys Marcus Day and Albie Hopkins on the wings.
Both teams ended their previous campaigns with very different play-off results, with The Boro’ losing out to Salisbury, whilst The Robins overcame Bristol Manor Farm in their play-off final, those results possibly having an affect mentally, heading into the new campaign.
Despite being a new comer into the league, the away side didn’t look out of place in the slightest, matching the hosts physically early on and with a referee who was happy to let things go, we knew we had a game on our hands.
The first big chance did fall to the home team, just in the second minute when Alfie Stanley found himself free down the right, before firing an effort which took a slight kick through to Phillips, who had to be alert to the change in direction, pushing it out to Teale who cleared.
It was clear that some of the players were still finding their feet at this level, but one who was on it from the get go was Day, who in the sixth minute, picked the ball up before sitting his man down, then firing an effort which was smartly saved by Callum Smart, with the attackers unable to navigate the ball past the Gosport keeper.
After a fairly even 20 minutes, Gosport started to show why they finished 4th last season, after a loose pass, the Hampshire based side worked it well before sliding an inch perfect ball through to Daniel Rowe, who had all the time in the world one on one with Phillips, but couldn’t find a way past the Frome keeper, who somehow tipped the midfielders effort past the post.
The visitors remained on the back foot for the majority of the second half, as Cameron Murray and Stanley both went close in quick succession, with the former firing over following a pull back 28 minutes in, before Phillips was equal to the latter’s edge of the box strike three minutes later.
Aside from a late flurry of Gosport yellows that was all the first half action, with the Robins the happier of the two sides going into the interval.
Straight after the whistle for the second half, it appeared Gosport picked up where they left off, creating a chance 45 seconds into the second half, through Stanley once again, who fired over on his left.
That did seem to be a turning point in the game, it was clear the home side were getting frustrated, mistakes were creeping in and chances started to flow for the patient Robins.
In the 58th minute, a loose pass in the midfield was picked up by James Ollis, he travelled with the ball before slipping through Day, who cut on to his left foot, firing a shot, which was unfortunately blocked.
Frustrating the hosts further and with the ability to now use five subs, it allowed the travellers to keep the press going throughout the 90, the introduction of Hutson in the 67th minute appeared to be pivotal, as from the get go, he was a real handful for the Gosport defender’s, forcing them in to critical errors which would later pay dividends.
The constant pressure on The Boro’s backline and midfield worked a treat once again as they conceded a needless corner after attempting to play out from the back, whilst the corner came to nothing, it was recycled back to Hopkins, who curled an effort towards the back post, with the keeper seemingly unsure if it was heading straight in, deciding to tip it out for another corner.
It appeared the game was petering out with just five minutes to go, with Frome certainly looking fairly happy with a point, however another error at the back saw Hutson purloin the ball, taking matters in to his own hands he raced past a tired Gosport defence, before cooly slotting past Smart, sending not only the away fans but the away bench in to raptures.
It would have been nice to stick the Gosport “fun-bus” in front of our goal for the reminder of the game, instead it was back’s against the wall, despite that it was actually Frome who had the last big chance, after a long throw in was headed out, Hutson beat the last man to the ball, then playing fellow substitute Will Taylor through who starting in his own half, had acres of green grass in front of him and the keeper to beat, he rounded Smart, but he somehow managed to recover enough to claw Taylor’s effort out.
If that had gone in it would have made the remainder of the game a lot more enjoyable, not too be though and no damage done as the referee sounded the whistle five minutes later, three points for Frome on their return to the Southern League Premier South.
Whilst a win like that is quality, we can’t get too complacent, it’s a long season and it continues on Tuesday, in our first home game of the campaign against Merthyr, they won 6-0 today, with Kane Simpson scoring a hat-trick, but if anyone knows how to contain him it should be us right? Join us on Tuesday to find out!
Match report and live updates by Harrison Richards
Now the fixture list is out and the tickets for the first couple of months of home fixtures are ready for purchase, you can secure entry in advance on the FanBase app and website (link below)
Wow!
That’s a result that surpasses all expectations. Will the Frome Town FC ‘Feel Good Factor’ ever end? This is just amazingesque
We are riding on the crest of a wave of success and it's getting very heady and addictive isn’t it?
Yes, it’s only three points for sure but win Tuesday and we’ll likely be top of the league!
‘The Hill’ is going to be rocking next week and it’ll be interesting to see the level of the teams that we’re playing against. It’s possible that we’ll be the first team to hit the 1,000 gate mark in our new league ? That would be quite something! They'll be flooding through our solitary turnstile?
Those big crowds at the ‘The…