Frome through thanks to extra-time winner

12:56pm Monday 6th October 2008

Frome Town 2, Tavistock 1 (aet)

FROME Town progressed to the second round of the FA Vase with a hard fought 2-1 win over a determined Tavistock side thanks to a Caslake goal deep into the second half of extra-time.

The rain started just before the kick-off and fell for the duration of match. With the ball tending to skid off the surface and stiff wind blowing, the conditions were far removed from the Indian Summer conditions of the previous week.

Frome were first out of the blocks, as Mark Salter broke through in the first 20 seconds, only for his left foot shot to be saved by Andy Meeds in the visitors' goal. And when Jon Crowley headed just over the bar in the third minute it seemed as if early goals were sure to come.

However, it didn't turn out that way, and Tavistock settled down and proved themselves to be the equal of Frome in midfield, resulting in a generally quiet first half.

It took until the 40th minute for the next real chance, as Mark Salter put Toby Colbourne clean through on goal, but Meeds was up to the task and saved well, to ensure that the score remained 0-0 at half-time.

Frome started brightly in the second half, but it was Tavistock who took the lead in the 51st minute as three missed tackles allowed Mark Conday a clear shot on goal, and he made no mistake from 10 yards, putting the ball cleanly into the corner of the net.

The goal spurred Frome into action and the equaliser came in the 67th minute as Sam Duggan cleverly chipped the ball over the defence and Toby Colbourne's back header was blasted home from close range by Jamie Cheeseman to the relief of the home crowd.

The rest of the half was a fairly tame affair, with both sides finding it difficult to retain possession and keen not to give away a goal. Richard Fey did well to tip over a 30 yard shot in the 78th minute, but Frome came closest to winning it in the 96th minute as a downward header from Jon Crowley was only just saved on the line.

The fifth minute of extra-time saw Sam Duggan create chaos in the Tavistock defence with a shot that led to an extraordinary passage of play that saw the ball saved by the keeper, cleared off the line and hit the post all in a few seconds, but the goal refused to come.

The 12th minute of extra time saw another Duggan shot cleared off the Tavistock line, and it seemed that the fates were decreeing a replay in Devon on Tuesday night, but it wasn't to be, and in the 114th minute of the match, the deadlock was broken as substitute Dean Caslake made ground on the right wing, looked up and saw Mark Salter attacking the far post, and Caslake's cross drifted over Meeds and into the far top corner of the goal to be greeted by a roar from the home fans.

This stung Tavistock into action, and the last six minutes of the match were probably the best of the match, as the game opened up and Frome could well have added to the final scoreline, with chances falling to Burke and Gomes.

Alex Lapham was chosen as man-of-the-match by Gary Collinson on behalf of Clive Lewis Financial Ltd, who sponsored the match.

Frome now look forward to a Somerset Professional Cup game against Odd Down on Wednesday and the big FA Cup third round game against Team Bath on Saturday.

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