Gloom at Frome for sloppy Waders

Make no mistake, trying to play football on such a sticky surface in the West Country was nigh on impossible.

The opening period of this Southern League Premier clash was described by manager Chris Nunn as the worst 35 minutes of football this season.

Only Craig Daniel, Inih Effiong and Sam Merson tested the keeper in the first 45 minutes but all were dealt with comfortably. At the other end they encountered different problems as the pitch made judging the run of the ball perilous.

Mistake after miskick littered the Biggleswade team. Midway through the first half a corner as only partially cleared and Dan Cleverley was on hand to assist the bobbling ball over the line for Frome’s opener.

Twelve minutes on and Fitzgibbon was adjudged to have been fouled in the box and Jon Davies despatched the resulting penalty. Half time could not come too soon for a very lacklustre, travel weary bunch of boys in yellow.

A few words from the manager saw the Waders come out a different side and there followed a 45 minute assault on the home goal.

The Waders faithful knew we had been two behind before and retrieved it, but it wasn’t to be this time.

Try as they may, Frome did all in their power to stop the onslaught.

With Tony Burnett on for the injured Marsh, his forward running added more problems for the Frome back line.

On 77 minutes Burnett got his name on the sheet as he converted an Effiong cross.

It gave Biggleswade 13 minutes to grab a leveller and improve spirits on the long journey home but Frome played all the cards to run down the clock. They needed the win at whatever cost in their battle to stay in the division.

Waders’ next game is at home to Chesham United on Saturday.