DESPITE an improved performance in the second half, Frome Town did not have the firepower to really trouble one of the top six sides in the league as clinical finishing and two late goals saw Poole Town cruise to a 5-0 victory.

After Saturday’s narrow home defeat by Kettering, Frome named an almost unchanged line-up for this tough away match against last season’s runners up, with the only change being Ricky Hulbert replacing Ollie Taylor, who was unavailable.

Poole looked dangerous right from the start and after a 25-yarder from Luke Roberts was deflected over the Frome bar, Ben Worlock was in the right place at the right time to head the resulting corner off the line.

Poole did take the lead six minutes later after Roberts had brought a good save from Darren Chitty. The ball ran free on the edge of the Frome area and Richard Gillespie fired home.

Four minutes later Poole almost doubled their advantage as Chitty turned a low Gillespie shot round the post, and was alert to make another fine save from the resulting corner.

Frome's first attack in the 12th minute saw a good build-up as Jamie Horgan and Robb Hobbs combined well to set Tyler Sibbick free on the right, and his drilled low cross found Hulbert on the near post but his shot went wide.

Steve Devlin had the ball in the net for Poole in the 21st minute, only for it to be ruled out for offside, but then Frome again threatened as Sibbick did well to control and turn in one movement and his through ball to Joe Tumelty saw the winger cut inside from the left and hit a shot that was heading for the top corner, only to be tipped away by the diving Nick Hutchings.

Poole did get their second in the 27th minute as Gillespie won a penalty after a push by Steve Hulbert and Devlin made no mistake from the spot, putting the ball away to Chitty’s left hand side.

Their third arrived in the 33rd minute as a ball forward from Mike Walker was knocked on by Gillespie allowing Marvin Brooks to run into the area and shoot past Chitty from the edge of the area.

With Gillespie having another effort ruled out for offside ten minutes later, Frome were looking at a repeat of last year's 7-0 result.

However, the second half was better and saw Frome taking the match to the hosts more, and after Gillespie had fired over from range in the 51st minute, Frome almost reduced the deficit Horgan fed a perfect through ball to Tumelty, but his goalbound shot was deflected away by a combination of the legs of Whisken and Hutchings.

Frome continued with their policy of going forward at Poole and after Hulbert had cut in from the right to shoot low into Hutchings, he almost found the perfect cross to Sibbick, but it was slightly too high and the energetic striker headed over the bar.

Unfortunately for Frome, the goal that could have changed the balance of the match failed to come, and Poole scored a fourth in the 81st minute as a Devlin corner seemed to flick off Ben Worlock at the near post and deflect wickedly in at the far post, though the official gave the goal to Whisken.

The fifth arrived with Gillespie leaping unmarked at the far post to head home a deep right wing cross with two minutes of normal time left.

Goalkeeper Chitty was awarded the H&B Tyres Man of the Match award.