A 65th-MINUTE goal from Jake Jackson cancelled out a 15th-minute opener from Redditch’s Sam Merson as Frome Town signed off for the season by holding play-off bound Redditch United to a draw on Saturday.

Frome had Marcus Mapstone and Sam Teale returning to the side and, after last week's match against Hungerford, this promised a more combative performance, which turned out to be the case.

The match started brightly with both sides looking for the opening goal, and in the opening moments, both sides had free kicks in dangerous positions that both keepers did well to deal with.

Sam Merson shot just wide for the visistors in the ninth minute and when he flicked a header wide in the 10th, it was obvious that Redditch were looking for victory.

Frome then countered and Mike Bryant blasted over the bar as a left wing move gave him time and space, then Jackson did well to win the ball from Matt Day and clip a shot just past the near post.

However, Redditch took the lead in the 15th minute as hesitation in the home defence allowed the ball to run free to James Clark who then set up Sam Merson to clinically despatch the ball into the far corner.

An audacious shot by Ashley Sammons from just inside the Frome half clipped the outside of the top of the post in the 21st minute, and with Sammons curling a free kick just over the Frome bar and then setting up Merson to bring a save from Baldy, Frome were doing well to limit the damage.

However, Jon Davies brought a save from Jose Veiga as he drove a free kick into the keeper’s body and with a George Miller header bring a low save at the near post by Veiga, an equaliser for Frome was always a possibility.

The second half seemed noticeably different, with Redditch content to defend their lead and conserve their energy for the play-offs.

Teale managed to get his head to a left wing corner in the 55th without effect, and the pressure paid off in the 65th minute as a good move involving Walker, Page and Jackson led to Frome winning a throw-in.

As the throw came in, Jackson was on hand to stab the dropping ball home from ten yards to give the home side a deserved equaliser.

Strangely, Redditch still seemed fairly subdued in their response, and Frome almost scored again in the 77th minute as Mitchell Page went close with an acrobatic effort that cleared the far post.

Another period of pressure five minutes later ended with Veiga calming things down as he took a Davis cross with ease.

Teale was shown a second yellow in the 87th minute as he fouled Sammons ten yards outside the Frome box, and as the free kick came in it was hacked off the line after Baldy had done well to save well.

The point earned Frome their highest points finish in their history in the Southern League Premier Division, 14 points above the drop zone.

Jackson was awarded the H&B Tyres Man of the Match Award by Tom Clark of Special Effects.