Shepton Mallet 2 – 3 Frome Town

Frome Town were beaten by Shepton Mallet in their A361 derby win. The pre-season friendly was ultimately decided by Ross Staley’s volley finish after the Western League side had taken the lead just minutes after the break. Despite Mallet’s second goal with just over ten minutes remaining, Frome held on to their lead and secure a third win in four pre-season games.

Both teams began with the ambition to play attacking football. Shepton Mallet’s intensity betrayed their position two steps below the visitors and the home side looked sharp from the start in what was their final game before they open their league campaign against Portishead next week. Striker Marcus Day, who had been a fixture in the forward line for 90 minutes, hit the bar in the opening few minutes as Frome’s first foray into the final third almost gave them the lead.

There were chances aplenty as the rain pelted down in the opening half hour. Frustration crept into the Frome ranks as an exasperated Danny Greaves berated his charges for their poor form discipline. Shepton took delight in clearing long balls down the right and it was one of these early second-half outbursts that gave the Mallets a deserved lead to that point. Frome keeper Kyle Phillips attempted to collect the ball on the edge of the box but the Shepton winger did well to square the ball and run in support, their midfielder firing home before the keeper could get back and attempt a save.

It was the impetus the Robins needed. In the next ten minutes James Ollis had just failed to head in a superb Reece Rusher cross from the right. The striker was as industrious as ever – always running and working hard. When he was knocked down and Frome was awarded a free-kick just outside the box, Shepton could not deal with the cross and the captain, Sam Teale, fired his team level amid defensive disarray.

The visitors continued to press and took the lead through Marcus Day, whose performance against Clevedon means he has three goals in two appearances this week. Fellow signing Albie Hopkins charged down the wing and sent a cross which found Ross Staley. Jepson in goal for the Mallet made a smart save to stop the wing-back’s effort but Day was on hand to clear away and seal the lead with 15 minutes to go. The deficit was increased a few minutes later when Sam Heal’s low, hard cross was met emphatically by Staley, whose cameo from the bench saw him play further up the pitch, in the ‘pocket’, than the supporters were perhaps used to.

This was hardly a classic victory, but it was a significant one, given that Danny Greaves’ side have played two games against opponents who have possession and want to push forward with the ball, today against Shepton Mallet and in midweek against Clevedon. There are further challenges ahead of the opening game of the season away to Gosport Borough on August 10, starting with the trip to Westbury on Tuesday, but it will be invaluable for the side to come out on the right side of a highly competitive contest.

Match report and live updates provided by Zeb Baker-Smith

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