Team: Bond, Ollie, Wheeler Jnr, Barnaby, Wells, Cagilaba, Brewster, Rudi, Hardwick, Porter, Seviour©
Subs: Wright Brotherton Russell (Unused: Carver)
Dugout: Fosu Gharban(M)
MOM: WheelerJnr
Goals: Seviour, Brewster
Frome Town played with great spirit here against the league leaders Corsham but succumbed to a last minute free kick after they played the last 25 minutes or so with 10 men due to injury.
Frome went into this game shorn of several key players with Charlie, Wheeler, Rose & Pollock all unavailable while Brotherton and Wright made their debuts from the bench along with Russell who made his first appearance since the first game of the season.
This match showed the importance of set pieces with both sides scoring from a direct free kick & corner with Corsham also managing a goal from a header from a free kick in addition. Frome started the game well although it was noticeable that Frome adopting a slightly more structured pressing method based on triggers were possibly not pressing Corsham’s defenders and goalkeepers at all available opportunities with Frome players missing the trigger of poor passes (Travel as the ball travels) to press their men although most other pressing trigger types were recognized.
Frome defended stoutly with WheelerJnr normally a midfielder or fullback doing a superb job at centreback in the absence of his brother often finding good passes out to overlapping fullback Wells in addition. Barnaby was his usual efficient self in defence along with the tenacious Ollie.
With the movement in midfield good with Brewster & Rudi’s off the ball movement excellent Bond played the ball from the back quite well as well as making some good saves when required. The half was fairly tactical in open play with the pattern one of Corsham set up with a high line and looking to switch play while Frome sat slightly deeper denied space in behind and looked to play through the thirds in possession in behind the highish Corsham line.
In open play the game was a stale mate but after Corsham conceded a free kick Seviour scored a spectacular goal with a dead ball strike on the angle over the Corsham keeper to give Frome a 1-0 HT lead. After half time the pattern of the game remained similar but this time Corsham struck through a wide free kick that they headed home.
With about 25 to go Frome found themselves down to 10 men as the excellent WheelerJnr went off with a calf injury with all the subs used. Corsham then capitalized by scoring after a goalmouth melee after a corner to go 2-1 up vs the 10 men. However Frome never gave in and equalised with about eight minutes to go when the determined Brewster converted a Frome corner with a low finish for 2-2.
Then with just seconds left on the clock Wright conceded a free kick outside the box. Corsham scored direct from the freekick past a despairing Bond to win the game 3-2. Frome showed great spirit in this game against the league leaders.
The areas to improve in training are those of pressing triggers, counter pressing & being able to counter attack effectively and quickly once the ball has been won back.