Friday 21st October. Southern League Division One South. Frome Town 3-0 Westbury United
Abysmal weather conditions but a really good derby at Badgers Hill where a great crowd of 866 attended the first Frome v Westbury derby since 2008!
It says something when the hosts’ goalkeeper Kyle Philips was named man of the match when his team won 3-0!
Philips was outstanding, especially in a spell of 25 minutes either side of half time when he made a series of excellent saves, including from a penalty when it was only 1-0!
Town settled quicker in the wet and windy elements and Lewis Porter did well to deny Jamie Adams early on. Then at the other end Charlie Walton met Steve Hulbert’s clipped ball but headed wide.
George Rigg’s swirling free kick was really well turned over by Porter and from the resulting corner James Ollis’ attempt was off target.
Frome put together a swift move to open the scoring on 20; Ben Starr and Laurent Davis-Wilson combined to set up Ollis who swept the ball in with his left foot.
Harvey Flippance had a glorious chance to equalise just after the half hour, taking advantage of a poor pass he advanced towards goal only to be denied by Philips’ palmed save.
United got into their stride towards the break ; Ryan Bole sent in a skidding ball which eluded the stretched legs of Flippance, Dan Price and Walton. Matty Morris showed good pace before seeing his cross deflected wide after which Walton headed the corner wide. Philips then saved a Bole free kick.
Frome nearly doubled their lead immediately before half time when Ollis had an effort deflected wide and Westbury managed to scramble away the flag kick!
United came out at a rapid rate after the restart and went straight on the attack; Morris broke clean through and was taken out by Jack Witcombe as he was about to shoot. Having given a penalty the referee somehow only deemed Witcombe’s foul worthy of a yellow card! After a long delay Bole struck the spot kick low to Philips’ left and the keeper saved superbly.
Despite this setback the next 5 minutes was all Westbury as they surged forward; Walton’s mazy run ended with Philips saving again, Flippance hit a fierce shot that Philips parried away then Joe Stradling raced through but took too long to shoot, his effort was blocked as was Flippance’s rebound.
Ollis doubled Frome’s lead on the hour when he got the final touch at a corner.
As the visitors sought a way back into the game a quick break led to Stradling driving the ball across goal and narrowly wide!
Rigg put the score beyond United on 78 when he fired in from outside the box after a set piece wasn’t cleared properly.
In the closing stages Starr went on a good run and passed to Luke Hopper whose powerful shot went a yard wide.
Westbury kept going right until the end; Philips denied Morris then Flippance got the ball in the net but it was disallowed for a foul.
Star Men; Kyle Philips (Frome Town) & Steve Hulbert (Westbury United)
Team; Lewis Porter, Steve Hulbert, Ryan Bole, Jake Hutchings, Dan Price, Ashton Shanley, Joe Stradling, Will Thomson, Harvey Flippance, Charlie Walton, Matty Morris. Subs; Jack Biddiscombe, Sam Jordan (used) Emmanuel Adepitan, Aaron Cockerill, Ricky Hulbert (unused)
