AFTER a poor first half had seen them trailing 3-1 at half time and going down to 10 men in the 70th minute, a spirited fightback saw Frome draw level before succumbing to another goal from Hitchin to lose out.

The home side drew level at 3-3 in the 79th minute, but straight from the restart, Hitchin made it 4-3 and despite Frome’s goalkeeper Kyle Phillips going close at the end, the visitors held on for the three points.

Injuries and absence forced a reshuffle of Frome’s central defence before the match, and Hitchin took the lead as Elliot Bailey shot home in the 13th minute.

A short corner in the 33rd minute allowed Josh Bickerstaff to hit a hopeful cross that evaded everyone and nestled low in the far corner and a high bouncing ball in the 35th minute deceived the home defence and Connor Vincent clinically made it 3-0.

On the stroke of half time, Jon Davies made it 3-1 as he converted from the spot after being fouled in the area.

After a bright start, Frome were reduced to 10 men in the 70th minute as Mitchell Page was shown a straight red for a possible elbow, but they then pulled it aback to 3-3 as Chas Hemmings headed home a George Miller free kick in the 77th minute and Miller himself drove home in the 79th as a corner was headed back to him by Hemmings.

But the home celebrations were cut short as Hitchin attacked in numbers straight from the restart and Vincent hit a 20-yard screamer that made it 4-3.