MATCH REPORT: Bristol Manor Farm 1-1 Frome Town
Frome steal a point at the death as Farm’s winless league start continued at the Creek, writes Jack Davies.
The two sides were meeting for the first time since Farm’s incredible play-off semi-final win last season and both were hoping for an upturn in their early season form.
The visitors had the best of the opening ten minutes and created the first chance. Luke Hopper found himself bearing down on goal but could only lift his effort over.
Farm got themselves going and had the bulk of the first half chances. Jake Gosling slipped Jayden Nielsen in, and whilst his initial cross was too high for Evander Grubb, Marcus Day recycled and found Grubb, who’s header lacked the power to beat Kyle Phillips.
Day created the next big chance too. His cross was low this time and it fell all the way to Nielsen at the back post, but he lifted just over.
Josh Ford was playing his first home game this season and he was next to try to break the deadlock. A clever Gosling corner was met full on the volley by the bit centre back but it was tipped just over.
Phillips in the Frome goal was having a fine first half and would be called upon twice more before half time. Firstly, he saved smartly as Grubb swung from Simpson’s cutback and then pushed a low Day effort around his upright.
Frome had the final chance of an entertaining half. Davis-Wilson reacting quickest to a loose ball before volleying just over.
Day’s busy afternoon continued early in the second half. Neat work by Grubb and Gosling saw the latter eventually find Day, who was brilliantly denied by the onrushing Phillips.
Just before the hour, Farm would take a deserved lead. Gosling swept another glorious pass out to Day, who made no mistake this time as he drilled his effort into the far corner.
Day was also involved in the incident that changed the match. He slipped by two defenders who both made contact with the winger’s legs inside the box. Seemingly going against every single other person in the ground, the referee waved away the penalty appeals.
Farm kept pushing for a killer second and came the closest through Simpson. The big striker weaved inside two challenges but his shot on his weaker left side didn’t have to power to beat Phillips in the Frome net.
Mason Winter brilliantly denied two Frome attacks before a header by James Ollis looked a certain goal, Josh Ford back brilliantly to hook the ball from his own goal line.
Frome’s sucker punch came just inside injury time. Luke Hopper afforded too much space and after seeing efforts saved and blocked, he finally swept home with his third attempt to share the spoils.
(STAR MAN – Marcus Day)