FROME Town followed up their opening day draw at Slough Town with another stalemate against newly-promoted Merthyr Town on Wednesday night.

Ben Thomson netted the Robins’ first goal of the new Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division season against the Martyrs at Badgers Hill but the visitors levelled to take a share of the spoils back to Wales.

With Darren Chitty and Ed Baldy both unavailable, Frome manager Adrian Foster brought in goalkeeper Rob Brown from Melksham Town at late notice and the Robins took the lead two minutes before the break when Lewis Haldane cut inside a defender and crossed to the far post to allow striker Thomson to head home the opener.

But Merthyr hit back midway through the second period when Ryan Prosser finished off a smart team move to make it 1-1.

On Saturday, neither Frome nor their hosts Slough were able to secure a real foothold in their clash and were left to settle for a goalless draw.

Josh Ferguson fired over from 20 yards with four minutes on the clock before home goalie Mark Scott was called into action to save from Thomson, after he had been set up by Joe Tumelty.

Jon Vance set up Kris Miller but his low drive was knocked away by Slough stopper Scott, whilst, up the other end, Ed Smith drew a save from Chitty and Craig Scott headed high over the Frome goal from a free-kick, after Ferguson was booked for a challenge on Sean Fraser.

Three minutes after the break, the hosts had a golden opportunity to take the lead when James McClurg connected with Lewis Putman’s pinpoint cross but fluffed his shot from a glorious position and in the 62nd minute. The Slough duo linked up again but this time the former skewed his effort wide of the mark.

The hosts’ Jake Parsons had an effort deflected wide but, with 77 minutes on the clock, Joe Stradling’s looped cross beat the home keeper but Adam Martin headed away to safety.

Ollie Taylor had a shot saved from the resultant corner but neither side could find a breakthrough.