WITH chances at either end, this match could have gone either way, but after Frome had taken the lead and Slough equalised shortly after, a battling defensive display from the home side saw them hang on for a hard-won point.

Frome were able to start the match with just one alteration from the side that had done so well against Paulton. Dylan Bonella came in for Ben Worlock at number seven after Worlock had picked up a knee injury. Matt Smith, Jon Vance and Matt Cowler were all still missing through injury.

The first half started quietly, but threatened controversy in the 12th minute as Rhys Baggridge tangled with a Slough forward in one of those incidents that often results in a flurry of cards from the referee, but in this case a stern talking-to thankfully sufficed.

Slough could easily have taken the lead in the 12th minute as missed clearances in the Frome defence allowed Ed Smith to volley from a position close to the penalty spot, with the ball hitting the post when it seemed easier to score.

As Slough seemed to be taking charge of the game, Frome struck back as Aaron Rodriguez produced a good run on the left that ended with the ball coming back to him on the far post, but his header just missed the post and with Lewis Haldane and Ben Thomson physically introducing themselves to the Slough defence, the match started to look like a good contest.

In the 25th minute, a strong Thomson run on the left led to Kris Miller picking the ball up on the right and driving into the box before unleashing a shot into the arms of Jake Somerville, but then Slough went close and only a desperate clearance off the Frome line prevented the opening goal.

Ten minutes before half time, a Thomson flicked header set Haldane free and as he powered past his marker on the left, he opened his body to shoot across the goal with his right foot, only for the ball to just fail to curl back in far enough, and, apart from a goalbound shot from Jake Parsons that hit the back of Scott Harris just before the break, there were no more chances and the score remained 0-0 at half time.

After Frome had gone close through Rodriguez in the 52nd minute, they took the lead in the 55th minute as the overlapping Kris Miller was set free on the right by Haldane after a run from Thomson.

His low, hard cross was driven home at the far post by Brandon Mundy who had made a lot of ground to get into position for the chance.

Slough should have equalised a minute later as the unmarked Harris guided a header wide of the near post, but he redeemed himself shortly after as he produced a perfect looping header over Darren Chitty following a good left cross from Ed Smith.

The match now settled into a pattern where Slough had more possession and territory and probably looked the more likely to score, but with the entire Frome side tackling hard and working tirelessly, a break away goal was always a possibility and it seemed likely that one side or the other was going to take all three points.

However, it wasn’t to be, and despite Slough generally controlling things, Frome almost snatched the winner in the 85th minute as a free kick allowed Baggridge to flick the ball across the goal, and as Mundy slid in, he just failed to get the finishing touch to the move.

Jack Vallis was chosen for the H&B Tyres Man of the Match award by match sponsor Tom Clarke and the big defender won most everything in the air in this game and didn’t put a foot wrong.