FROME Town paid the price for not having their manager or assistant at Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat Kettering Town.

Manager Josh Jeffries was handed a two-game stadium ban after he was involved in an altercation with the referee in their 3-0 loss to Dorchester Town back in October.

With assistant manager Ben Cleverley also unable to be at the game, Frome found themselves 3-0 down in Northamptonshire before Jake Jackson got a consolation in the 62nd minute, Kettering later adding a fourth.

Jeffries was also handed a three-game stadium ban at the end of last year following social media comments he made about the FA ban for former manager Nick Bunyard.

“I was banned and unfortunately, the assistant couldn’t get out of work so it wasn’t an ideal situation,” said Jeffries.

“Lots of people will go there and lose, so it is just the fact we have done so well this season.

“I would have taken it at the start of the season, but after speaking to a couple of people, it wasn’t a 4-1 game.

“It’s pleasing in a sense that it wasn’t as bad as it looks, but on the flip side, a couple of the goals were probably our fault.

Jeffries’ side are seventh in the Southern League Premier Division, something he wasn’t expecting at the start of the season.

“It was a hard one to take because we have set our standards so high now. It always makes it harder, but you look at the bigger picture and what they have done is brilliant,” added Jeffries, who will also miss Saturday’s home clash with Stratford.

“I’m not allowed to be there again on Saturday. That is my last one.

"We need to make sure we go on another run. We're in a nice position and there is no pressure on us.”