Frome Town Women opened their South West Regional Eastern League campaign with a visit from Forest Green Rovers Ladies hoping to kick on from last seasons unbeaten league title. Right from the start Frome knew they had stepped up a league as Forest Green passed the ball confidently for the first 10mins but Frome soon got to grips with the task in hand as Christer and Petteford both got into goal scoring positions but both failed to find the target.
Christer rectified that on 18mins opening her account with a slide rule finish past the out rushing keeper to put Frome 1 up. Soon after Restorick in goal for Frome produced a fine close range instinctive reaction save as Forest pressed for an equaliser.
McGregor on 25mins turned neatly on the edge of the area and shot goalwards but too close to the keeper. Both teams competed in the middle both trying to dominate and right on 35mins Forest Green took advantage of some hesitant defending in the six yard area to equalise with a somewhat scruffy goal after no real goal threat for 15mins. The away keeper the busier of the two kept her team in it again from an Isaacson shot following great pressure on the back four from McGregor and Petteford forcing the mistake.
The 2nd half started with both teams keen to go forward playing neat football to feet and Frome carved the 1st opportunity as Christmas raced passed the Forest full back and looped in a cross which nearly crept into the far post but narrowly missed. Frome’s best chance soon came as a pinpoint corner from McGregor found Perkins run into the box with her header grazing the bar. 5mins later thou Christmas latched onto a hooked McGregor through ball and won the race with the oncoming keeper to slot home into the bottom corner to restore Frome’s lead. Frome kept pressing for a 3rd goal to seal the game but the closest effort was an early goal of the season contender from a full 40 yards out, a free kick by McGregor which beat the keeper all ends up but was foiled by the crossbar.
In the final 10mins Frome stuck to their individual tasks and saw out the game as Forest threw all they had at them.
The supporters player of the match was awarded to Ella McGregor for her energy and great composure on the ball throughout.
A solid start to the season with a great work ethic and a good passing game from the whole squad, a pleasure to watch well done all!