This game, watched by over four hundred spectators, lived up to its pre-match billing. It was fast, furious, feisty and full of incident with plenty of endeavour and skill on show.

Paulton Rovers 3 Frome Town 2

Paulton began on the front foot, with Kyle Tooze, Martin Lenihan and Will Harvey prominent in a succession of attacks. Tooze’s strength and composure saw him flash one cross which Lenihan just failed to convert. Harvey was close to finishing off another fine move.

Frome did not sit back though and James Ollis, Luke Hopper and Warren Maidment showed plenty of attacking intent. Aaron Sainsbury had to be alert to a cross shot from captain George Rigg, then blocked a Mike Baker drive at point blank range.

After fifteen minutes, a splendid Harvey through ball sent Ed Butcher away. His low cross was sidefooted into the Town net by Tooze to put Rovers one up. A period of Paulton pressure saw one snap shot from Butcher fly just wide and another from Tooze clear the crossbar.

Then, in a repeat of an earlier move, Frome equalised as Baker this time shot firmly past an exposed Sainsbury. Town were growing in confidence and Owen Humphries, through on goal, was only thwarted by a terrific save from the Rovers goalie. Some of Paulton’s play became panicky as they fought to regain control.

But then, with Chris Peck in support, Lenihan and Leo Eglin combined well on the left hand side to win a corner which Nuno Felix delivered. The ball fell to defender Mike Ilea who gleefully drove it past Town keeper Kyle Phillips, to make it 2-1.

As half time approached, Town’s James Ollis had a fine effort beaten away by Sainsbury and Lenihan saw his long range shot draw a fingertip save from the Frome keeper. Then in the forty fifth minute, Harvey benefitted from more terrific wing play by Tooze as he rifled the ball past Phillips to make it 3-1 to the home team. Harvey’s celebration was spectacular.

In the second half, despite the stronger wind making it difficult, the football continued to be played from end to end and the game became very open. First a Harvey free-kick somehow evaded everyone. Then following a great breakaway by James Byrne, Harvey drew another good save from Phillips.

Frome, eager to respond to going behind, mounted attack after attack, but keeper Sainsbury, dependable as ever, made a succession of assured catches, often under great pressure.

However, after sixty seven minutes a misplaced pass in midfield led to Frome forward James Ollis weaving past a succession of Paulton defenders, before despatching the ball past Sainsbury to reduce the arrears.

Then in the seventy sixth minute, Butcher found himself through on goal and with only the keeper to beat. But his shot drifted agonisingly wide of the far post, and the game remained on a knife edge.

Tooze found himself in a similar situation moments later but Phillips saved brilliantly. Tooze, leading the line really well, had another snap shot deflected into the side netting.

The game ended with Frome attacking, but Sainsbury, captain Neil Martin and his defenders managed to keep the Town forwards at bay with great interceptions and clearances.

Both teams, playing with great energy and commitment, contributed to a match of high drama.

It threatened to become ugly at times with tempers close to boiling point, but referee Duffill officiated with calm and assurance to keep matters trouble free. Just about.

Paulton men of the match: Everybody in the team, including substitutes and staff, deserves great credit for this performance.

Noel Avis