Frome Town’s hopes for the season were on the receiving end of a near-fatal blow as they suffered a 2-1 defeat away at relegation rivals Marlow. A lacklustre first-half showing saw the Robins trail after Naheer Nawaf capitalised on confusion at the back before equalising courtesy of an own goal just after the break. However, the home side’s newest signing Mitchell Parker would mark his arrival at the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground with a late winner to condemn the Robins to another crippling defeat
The Robins began the day eight points adrift of safety having not played in three weeks due to opposition cup runs and postponements, their last outing a disappointing defeat to Winchester City at home. The break had given Danny Greaves and his charges a window in which to recuperate and get fit ahead of a critical fixture like this, a first-ever meeting between the two newly-promoted sides at the bottom of the table.
Frome had more possession in the opening minutes but the opportunities to go forward were scarce. George Rigg’s sweetly-struck volley from outside the box before twenty minutes was helped over the bar by a brush of the Marlow keeper’s gloves. But it was just a few minutes when Marlow took the lead. Parker found the chink in the visitor’s stricken defence, his flick locating Nawaf who rounded Kyle Phillips and almost had the time to walk it into the net.
Marlow continued to counter quickly - their directness in comparison to Frome’s laborious approach the difference. The Buckinghamshire side’s defence swatted away mediocre attempts at crosses and, lead in hand, were generally content sitting it out to halftime.
Coming into the game, Frome were statistically the least threatening side in front of goal at Step 3 and Marlow are the leakiest defence at the same level. Both teams had won promotion via the play-offs and endured a tough start to life in the Southern Prem, their fans craving a rare win and boost ahead of a busy December. Marlow had seen off Wimborne a fortnight ago by the odd goal in five, but the Robins’ away form had not been dire, a couple of creditable draws earned in trying circumstances on the road.
Frome came out noticeably earlier for the second half. Energy levels had been poor before the interval but James Ollis (who soon hit the bar) and Archie Ferris immediately looked to get busy and impose themselves. The pressure from the front two paid off as a Josh Masters in defence for Marlow poked a speculative cross past his own keeper after fifty minutes. A point hardly suited either side in this ‘six-pointer’ though and the hosts soon steered the momentum back in their favour. The forward, Parker had been dangerous all game and his free-kick came within inches until Phillips responded with a crucial glove to divert it.
Once notable chance fell to Zak Drew who had come on at half-time after Ollis’ run resulted in Albie Hopkins getting free. The winger’s cross met by Drew who was unable to curl his first-time shot enough in a rare bit of slick football from the Robins. Marlow would instead have the final say, as the lethal Parker calmly slotted in a rebound off the post, the crestfallen expressions of the Frome players as marked as the cheers of the regulars.
The hosts finished stronger, buoyed by their late winner, striking the woodwork to underline there was to be no fairy-tale comeback as their keeper went down at a goal-kick and a raft of substitutions were made.
Will this then be the nadir of a year of two halves? The honest, yet sombre, word spoken in the post-match interview with Danny Greaves would indicate that inability of his players to get up for the biggest game of their season is a cause for concern. Circumstances are against Frome in this league but not more so than Marlow who, it must also be mentioned, were deserving of their win. So many times after a damaging defeat, there has been a call for a reset or assurances that the team would go again the next week - again this weekend? Many people, fans of the club as well as outsiders, have already condemned the Robins to relegation and, on this showing, there is no reason to doubt them. If that is the case, the rest of the season, starting with Hanwell Town on Tuesday, is a chance for all involved in the club to restore some pride, to stick together and see what can be achieved.
Live updates and match report written by Zeb Baker-Smith
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We are now10 points from safety, discounting that gap getting even bigger along the way! It’s looking hopeless, the table doesn’t lie and our stat’s are just dreadful. Lack of goals, lack of clean sheets, lack of home wins, 16 league games without a win in the league, only two wins this season – both against lower league sides and knocked out of the FA Cup by a lower league side.
The season has been an utter disaster. We are not good enough for this league. We are a Division One squad playing in the Premier League and it’s turning into a humiliating experience. We’ve now played Tiverton, Winchester & Marlow, whilst all in the bottom four...and lost to all them! It must have been…