RICKY Hulbert broke his goal drought that stretched all the way back to January 25, 2014 with two goals and another from Darren Jefferies saw Frome run out comfortable winners over Toolstation First Division side Cheddar.

Frome’s squad was missing Jordan Walker who was cup tied and Stuart Dickin was missing through illness, but they were pleased to welcome back goalkeeper Darren Chitty after a month or so out with a groin injury.

New signing Mitchell Page started ahead of Saturday’s FA Trophy home game against Slough Town.

After Saturday’s sluggish start, Frome were much quicker out of the blocks in this game and in the first minute, Tyler Sibbick forced a save from the home keeper who was just able to turn the ball round the post for a corner.

Frome kept the pressure on and after a fourth-minute corner was not cleared, Sam Teale drove the ball across the goal and Liam Monelle should have done better from four yards but missed his shot completely.

As the match settled, Cheddar had their first chance in the 12th minute but the shot was well wide as the winger came clean through, then Frome went very close to opening the scoring two minutes later as Jon Davies went round the keeper only to have his shot cleared off the line and as Sibbick followed up, his shot was superbly tipped over the bar.

In the 20th minute, a right wing cross from Monelle was met by the diving head of Hulbert.

He then proceeded to set up Sibbick a few minutes later and his curling effort was turned behind by the Cheddar keeper who was having an inspired match.

Frome’s talent for missing from close range was again shown as a Teale header from four yards out failed to hit the target, but Monelle then proved that he prefers shooting from distance as a 20-yard cracking effort thudded against the Cheddar crossbar on the half hour.

The second half saw Cheddar doing well up the slope and chances were few and far between, but then Frome doubled their lead in the 72nd minute as Rob Hobbs flicked the ball onto Darren Jefferies who burst in from the right of the area and buried the ball in the back of the net.

Frome’s third goal arrived in the 80th minute as man of the match Hulbert evaded offside and raced onto a through ball and dinked it over the keeper to seal the result and send Frome through to the next round.