Crusaders frustrated by Robins

This was a remarkable, and in many ways frustrating game, for although the visitors played over an hour with 10 men, and were down to 9 by the end, they battled on bravely and were lucky in the closing stages when we rained in shot after shot, but lacked the composure to get the winner. Frome might even have won when Mark Francis got clear and hit the post, but luck was on our side on this occasion as the visitors were denied the chance of an incredible win.

The blustery wind made things very difficult at the start and there was little good football from either side, and Mark Cooper was sent off for a two-footed over-the-ball tackle on Ian Herring which left the Hungerford player limping and when a through pass from Dan Cann sent Lee Smith (pictured) clear on the right, he burst through to score decisively 10 minutes before the interval

The wind abated somewhat and with the slope in our favour, should have taken control in the second half, but substitute Mark Ford took advantage of some sloppy defending to beat Paul Strudley after 49 minutes

and give the game a different complexion as Frome suddenly realized that they were right back in the game.. We should have retaken the lead when Mark Draycott hit the post from close range and the ball bobbled tantalizingly about in front of the goal with no one able to get a decisive touch. There was another near miss when Charlie Mpi dived in on a cross from Alan O’Brien but failed to reach the ball when a touch would have brought a goal.

Then came the second sending off, Brendon Munday, who had already been booked, throwing the ball away to prevent a quick throw, to inevitably receive his marching orders. But we were unable to take advantage of the situation as we rained in shot after shot, all too often high and wide, when it needed a degree of calmness, and when we did get a shot on target, goalkeeper Darren Chitty was in great form, a one-handed save near the end denying us the winner, although one could not deny Frome’s determined defence.

Team; Strudley, Horgan(Goodger), Day, Boardman, Day, Rees, Clark , Herring(O’Brien), Cann,Draycott(Mpi),Smith.

Subs;Parsons, Rusby.