Frome Town 3 Paulton Rovers 1

A soaking wet pitch courtesy of a pre-match downpour, an expectant crowd and even a small boy carrying a silver foil replica of the Cup itself – all there at Frome’s Badger’s Hill ground on Saturday, and, with two teams intent on keeping the dream alive, we watched an absorbing encounter, punctuated by some outstanding goals.

The game began with both sides testing each other out, but the first real attempt came from Frome’s forward, Kane Simpson, who pounced on some slack play to flick the ball just wide of the goal.

Paulton were being pegged back and following a goalmouth scramble, Frome’s Davies fired over the bar and Martin Lenihan, a constant danger on the left, fired across the visitors’ goal.

Paulton began to create chances of their own and Nathan Brown forced James Carey in the Frome goal to make a smart save.

The deadlock was broken after sixteen minutes with a quite stunning scissor kick by Rex Mannings, following a cross by Lenihan, which flew past Sainsbury in the Paulton goal.

For a while Paulton struggled to get out of their own half, but then Dan Cottle, Ed Butcher and David O’Hare began to get to grips in midfield and Leighton Thomas had a fine header saved. Thomas also shot over the bar following a good run by George Fowler.

Paulton were beginning to make inroads, but strong tackling by Teale and Peck for the home defence made sure that the score at half time remained as Frome 1, Paulton 0.

Rovers began the second half with intent, creating some real pressure on the Frome defence. When Dan Cottle was fouled outside the area, after 47 minutes, Ed Butcher stepped up to fire an unstoppable shot past Carey to make the score 1 –1.

The game became end to end. A dangerous cross from Butcher was palmed away by the Frome goalkeeper, away from the onrushing Thomas, while Lenihan had another shot saved by Sainsbury. George Fowler was making good contributions all over the pitch for Paulton.

Both managers made substitutions after 59 minutes, with Lee Ibrahim (Paulton) and Alex Monks (Frome) joining the action.

After 64 minutes the sun came out and Frome gained control of the game. Davies crossed the ball to Matt Smith, whose header brought a fantastic save from Sainsbury. From the resulting corner, Simpson hit the base of the post. The outstanding Sainsbury then saved at the feet of Mannings.

After 71 minutes, Davies picked up a loose ball from midfield, ran strongly at the Paulton defence and unleashed an unstoppable shot past Sainsbury to make the score 2–1.

Further substitutions saw James Ollis and Archie Thayer for Frome and Lee Eglin join proceedings. Frome continued to pressurise the Paulton defence, for whom Adam Kelly, Nuno Felix, Adam Dempsey and Treyvond Anderson battled heroically.

But eventually, after 88 minutes, the Paulton defences were breached again as James Ollie made a strong run and finished with a fine cross shot into the Paulton net, to make the score 3–1.

Frome won this Cup tie by having just a bit more quality on the pitch, but both teams represented their clubs with great skill and endeavour.

The game was officiated with assurance by Andrew Hobbs. Paulton Rovers’ Man of the Match: Aaron Sainsbury.

Noel Avis