A game that was heading for a dire goal-less draw came alive for the final 15 minutes. Frome’s Alex Monks received a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Cam Munn. Matty Burrows’ delivery of the resultant free-kick was fired across keeper Kyle Phillips into the corner of the net by skipper Sam Jackson. The visitors then threw everything at Wimborne’s goal only for keeper Cam Plain and his back four to remain defiant to secure the points.

Manager Tim Sills made one change to his starting XI: recent signing Cam Plain in goal for the unwell Ross Flitney.

On a beautiful first day of Spring afternoon, spectators spent most of the first-half looking up into the cloudless sky trying to spot the ball. Frome’s no-nonsense defending, and energetic and physical pressing gave The Magpies little opportunity to bring their passing game into play. Given little time to control and move the ball, inevitably Wimborne joined in. No wonder the local birds stayed well clear of overflying the pitch. Frome’s only attempt on goal came on 14 minutes when Hopkins’ 25-yard central free-kick went past the defensive wall and past the post. Wimborne had three attempts on goal: on 18 minutes, after Drew Eccott-Young’s driving run was illegally ended, Matty Burrows free-kick sailed over the bar; Cam Munn’s volley from a half-cleared long throw drew a spectacular diving catch from Phillips on 27 minutes; and Sam Roberts downwards header from Sam Jackson’s cross was an easy save just before half-time. To be frank, it was just about the worst half of “football” we’ve had to endure at the Wyatt Homes Stadium this season.

The first half-hour after the interval was a little better: on 50 minutes Hopkins cut inside from the right and drew a fine save from Wimborne’s shot-stopper; just after the hour mark Burrows speed took him clear down the left wing, Harry Morgan’s shot from the cut-back was bravely blocked, with Owen Roundell-Prince firing the loose ball over the bar at the housing estate end; and Frome lofted three corners into the massed scrum of players at the far post.

With a quarter of an hour of normal time remaining, referee Demetriades sent Monks for first dibs of the shower gel for a dangerous tackle on Cam Munn to the left of the centre-circle in Frome’s half. Burrows’ resulting free-kick bounced in the penalty area and was driven into the net across Phillips by Sam Jackson. In Wimborne’s next attack, substitute Finley Richardson tricked his way to the left by-line to pull the ball back to Burrows whose shot was saved by the keeper with his legs.

Most of the attacking play now moved to the other end as Frome, belying the fact that they were a man light, poured forwards in search of an equaliser, but they found keeper Plain in fine form on his return. Following a long throw-in from the right on 81 minutes, the shot-stopper flew to his right to punch away a shot, then got to his feet to brilliantly block a shot at his near post, then pulled off another crucial save before Jemmett-Hudson’s audacious overhead flew past his post. After four minutes of additional time, in which Jackson’s headed clearance found Burrows who went close from distance, the referee gave a last blast, and Wimborne extended their unbeaten run to four.

Make no mistake, this was a very good three points for Tim’s team. Since the beginning of December, Frome have taken 21 points from 13 games, and were on a five-game unbeaten run on their travels. And these tactics have clearly served them well. Wimborne had to tough it out and display their resilience. The back-line of Eccott-Young, Sam Roberts, the sponsors’ MoM, the always reliable Harvey Wright, and captain Jackson were, as last week at Dorchester, terrific.

A last word – if you’re thinking of buying the highlights video of the game, it won’t be very long, so save your money, and maybe buy a copy of next Saturday’s match day programme instead.

Wimborne: Plain, Eccott-Young, Roberts, Wright, Jackson, Roundell-Prince, Morgan, Munn (Neale 78), Bedford (Richardson 73), Burrows, Fletcher (Holmes 69)

Unused subs: Biss, Walker 

Attendance: 587

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