Town extend winless run to six matches with defeat to Frome

STRATFORD Town extended their winless run to six games as a well-organised Frome side claimed a 2-1 victory at the MoodChimp Stadium, writes Bryan Hale.

Looking for their fourth win in five, Frome went ahead in only the fourth minute when Joe Raynes seized on a mistake by Andy Gallinagh to fire past Stratford keeper Louis Connor.

The Robins’ keeper Kyle Phillips kept their lead intact a couple of minutes later as he beat away a fierce effort from Ben Stephens, who has been attracting the attention of Ipswich Town, and the stopper did even better on the quarter-of-an-hour mark with a point-blank save from Mike Taylor.

Frome continued to threaten going forward with Jon Davies making some eye-catching runs down the right, but Stratford battled away with Stephens and James Hancocks going close from distance as half-time was reached with Frome still in front.

Only the woodwork prevented Frome from doubling their lead in the opening minutes of the second half with Darren Jefferies hitting a low drive against the foot of Connor’s left-hand post followed by a 25-yarder from Raynes rattling the bar.

Stratford were offered a glimmer of hope in the 54th minute as the Robins went down to ten men when Mitchell Page was red carded after a fracas on the halfway line, but they couldn’t take advantage and in the 66th minute Frome went two up when Marcus Mapstone headed in a Davies free-kick.

Substitute Kriss Miller almost made it three six minutes from the end with a curler which came back off the angle of post and bar with Connor well beaten, before Stephens netted what was only a consolation for Stratford with his 18th goal of the season deep into added time.