Nailsea went a long way to Frome to come away with no points and a 3-0 deficit, and still managed to play some of their best football of the season.
The pitch had 10 minutes of pre-match rain to add a nice slickness to the games passing, and Nailsea came out of the blocks at a race of knots, trying to resurrect the defeat by Welsh neighbours Portishead on the weekend.
Nailsea made all the early running with the young Cogan & Vickers combining well upfront, and kept the tempo upbeat to unsettle the home side, but after 20 minutes they had not been able to trouble the Frome Town keeper, and having not made the pressure tell Frome found time in the middle of the park to dissect the Nailsea defence to the right hand side, and Webber hit an early shot from the corner of the box for what must be a goal of the season contender.
With Nailsea having been on top, this did not disrupt them and they went about their business, and they found themselves with the perfect chance to pull level when Cogan raced free to find himself through on goal, but his tame effort rolled wide to the disappointment of the faithful Nailsea travelling fans.
Frome Town again found time to get the ball behind the Nailsea defence, and a Taylor slip let Frome in, and a dragback brom Badger found Dino who finished with a deaf touch into the bottom corner.
This served to hit Nailsea hard, and they conceded minutes after with Frome again getting in behind them, and a low hard cross saw Glover beat Roberts to the ball, and steer the ball home first time. 3-0 at the break.
Nailsea came out in the second half much as they did in the first. The majority of Nailsea's play was coming through the inspirational Ridge, who partnered by Sayers managed to build attack after attack.
Roberts & Wring sured up the Nailsea defence having pushed Taylor into midfield and Nailsea were dominant. Buxton and Parsons worked tirelessly on the wings and Buxton's crosses married with Ridge's freekicks seem to pin Frome back against their will for long periods of play, and the hard work from living legend Cogan meant Nailsea were firing on all cylinders.
No score had occurred so with a final throw of the dice manager Brace made his substitutions, Pete Barnard was nothing short of excellent at the back and Oatway went at them like a Dog for a hare, but still Nailsea did not score. Efforts from Vickers, Cogan, two from Oatway, Buxton, freekicks from Ridge and a header from Wring could not steel a goal, and Nailsea had to drive home having lost 3-0 at Badgers Hill.
This was a lesson in finishing, and proved how defensive frailties can give the team an uphill battle.
Nailsea'a chance to put the two recent losses behind is this Saturday at home to Churchill, where the mud is sure to hit the ceiling.
Hannah More Zider loves CLINT .......not gays. |
Frome Town vs NUFC
Posted - 24/03/2004 : 17:38:08
