FROME TOWN 1 PAULTON ROVERS 0

Frome deservedly progressed to the second round of the competition in what was a disappointing affair lacking the passion and intensity of the usual fixtures between these two clubs. The visitors enjoyed plenty of possession but rarely threatened the home goal, while Rovers’ skipper on the night, Kyle Phillips, was much the busier of the two keepers.

The first half was poor with very few chances created, although Phillips had to make an easy save from Luke Ballinger on the half hour and Rovers’ best and indeed only chance, came 2 minutes from the break when Charlie Rich’s cross was chested down by James Billing to Jack Nix, but his shot cleared the bar.

Fortunately for the crowd the second half was marginally more entertaining and Rovers began it well as Adam Mahdi’s cross from the by line just went behind the onrushing Billing and Josh Jeffries spun and shot straight at the Frome keeper after Ollie Price had headed down a corner from the right. However the hosts responded and after Rich slipped, giving Ballinger a chance which he put over the bar, Shaun Bennison’s cross from the left looked as though it was being headed into his own goal by Price, but Phillips pulled off a wonderful reaction save, changing direction to the turn the ball away for a corner.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 72nd minute, in a somewhat controversial manner, with the assistant flagging for a Rovers’ throw in, the referee overruled him and Frome took it quickly to substitute, Mike Perrot, who with a suspicion of hand ball, got past Price and set up Matt Smith for a clinical finish.

The home side were denied a second by two excellent saves from Phillips and to the relief of all, Rovers never looked like taking the tie to extra time and Frome go on to meet Well City in the next round.

Rovers: Phillips, Tovey (Allward 65 mins), Rich, Jeffries (Loxton 65 mins), Price, Osman, Lewis, Nix, Billing, Mahdi (Bradley 65 mins) , Bridges.
Sub not used: Lacey
Referee: David Bryant
Assts: Savyas Yianni / Craig Scriven
Attendance: 196