Frome Team: Phillips, Cooper, O’Loughlin, Teale, Mapstone, Davies, Lenihan, Simpson, Smith, Mannings, Monks Subs: Maidment, Peck, Brown, Hallett, Cottle Goals: Davies, Cottle
MOM: Teale
Frome Town emerged victorious from this top of the table local derby at Badgers Hill. With both teams pushing for promotion, a number of players having links to both sides, recent history and an excellent crowd of 455, the largest in the division today, you could expect the game to be a bit tense and so
it proved.
Frome started brightly but the visitors soon found their way into the game and had a succession of corners in the early stages although they failed to trouble Kyle Phillips in the Frome goal.
The first chance for Frome came on 13 minutes when Joe O’Loughlin whipped in a wicked cross from the left which was met by Mannings whose effort was blocked on the line and somehow scrambled away for a corner. Mapstone then shot wide of goal, and Mannings again on the half hour mark before Paulton had their first real chance as league top scorer Ben Bament beat the offside flag to go 1v1 with Phillips but put his shot high and wide. As the half came to an end Phillips was on hand to save another chance with his trailing foot and ensure the teams went in level.
Frome started the second half on the front foot and Davies was unfortunate with a free kick that dipped just over the bar.
The usual free flowing football was only sporadic but the home side seemed most likely to score and Davies broke the deadlock on 65 minutes with a feint to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and a cool left foot finish to open the scoring.
Shortly afterwards Paulton almost took advantage of a loose pass but Alex Monks was on hand to clear the danger before a superb 20 yard effort for the visitors hit the top of the crossbar and rebounded to safety.Paulton threw everything forward in an attempt to get an equaliser but the home defence held firm and the game should have been over I the 92nd minute when Davies unselfishly presented Cottle with the ball in the 6 yard line with an open goal begging and somehow it looked over the crossbar. Cottle was to make amends just 60 seconds later with a composed left foot finish to seal the game and send the home support away with smiles on their faces.
Man of the match was chosen by Club Ambassadors Barrie Simmons & Mike Chedgy, they selected Captain Sam Teale
