ZAMARETTO LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH & WEST: Cirencester Town 1 Frome Town 0 (From Wiltshire Times)

ZAMARETTO LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH & WEST: Cirencester Town 1 Frome Town 0

8:45am Monday 8th February 2010

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FROME Town's long unbeaten run of 19 matches under Darren Perrin came to an end at a cold and bleak Cirencester as they lost 1-0 to a goal scored just after half time.

The last time these teams met, Frome took all three points with a last-gasp winner from a hotly-disputed penalty - and it was clear from the conversations before the match that Cirencester were looking to de-dress the balance.

However it was Frome who very nearly took the lead in the fifth minute as a left-wing corner was met by Callum Henry and his header was only just cleared off the line by a defender on the far post.

As the match settled, Cirencester started to get the better of the game and seemed quicker to the ball, leading to a dangerous move in the 10th minute that saw Carl Brown bring a good save from Steve Perrin low down to his left.

Brown was again involved four minutes later as he took the ball to the dead ball line before pulling back a cross that the unmarked Rob Hoskin blasted over the bar from 15 yards out, to the relief of the Frome defence.

The next few minutes saw Cirencester go close on several occasions as Frome struggled to gain possession and mount attacks.

A well-struck stinging shot from Brown warmed up Perrin's hands in the 28th minute, and Frome managed their first shot on goal in the 36th minute as Mike Perrott tested Matt Bath in the home goal from long range.

Michael Reaney had to be on his toes in the 42nd minute as he managed to clear a dangerous low cross that had evaded everyone on its passage through the Frome area.

And what looked like a possible penalty for Cirencester, as Brown was taken down, was ruled out as the linesman flagged for an earlier offside decision.

With Frome having lost the first half on points, boss Perrin substituted Ricky Hulbert for Alex Lapham at half time.

But it was Cirencester who came out with all guns blazing right from the start of the second half, and the Frome goal survived several attampts on goal in the first few seconds, only for the ball to go out for a corner.

The pressure continued from the corner and ended with a low, skidding 20-yard shot that Perrin managed to stop on the line, but the ball broke free to Hoskin who gleefully slammed the ball home from close range.

Frome reacted to the goal by going looking for the equaliser, and in the 51st minute, a poor goal kick from Bath was headed into the path of Hulbert only for him to be taken down by Matt Syson as he ran into the unguarded penalty area, Syson picking up a yellow card in the process.

Jamie Cheeseman very nearly scored the own goal of the season in the 58th minute as, from 25 yards, he appeared to lob the ball over Perrin back towards his own goal, but thankfully the ball just went past the far post.

As the game progressed, Frome got better and better, but Cirencester were closing the game down very quickly and denying the Frome players any space.

And with Bath competently dealing with anything that came near him, it began to look like the equaliser was unlikely to arrive.

Matt Minnis replaced Sim Allison in the 70th minute and immediately a Perrott through ball allowed him to test Bath with a low shot.

But Frome's golden chance arrived in the 74th minute as a left wing free kick was won at the far post by Cheeseman, the ball being played to Ben Thomson who screamed the shot 10 yards over the bar from 15 yards, to the dismay of the travelling fans.

As the minutes ticked awy, Frome continued to press for the equaliser, with Mark Salter bringing a save from Bath with a clever shot on the turn, and a Thomson run putting Salter through on goal in the 90th minute.

But it was never going to happen and Cirencester celebrated noisily at the final whistle.

Callum Henry was chosen as man of the match for another calm assured match at centre back. Meanwhile, Frome have completed the signing of midfielder Ben Osman from Forest Green Rovers.

Osman is the son of former England international Russell Osman and has previously played for Exeter City, Salisbury City and Weston-super-Mare.

MORE FOOTBALL REPORTS, REACTION & PICTURES IN FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES

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