Frome Town failed to end Welton's unbeaten run in the league in a hard fought 1-1 draw which saw the second half played as a 10 a side match after both teams had a man sent off following a 22 man fracas after the half time whistle had sounded.

With the welcome return of Matt Cowler to the side at right back after a 9 month injury layoff, Andy Crabtree was able to push Sim Allison up to play wide on the left of midfield after an extended spell at left back, and the crowd hoped to see a return to goal scoring form after a spell that has seen most recent goals come from set pieces.

Frome were first to show in the 2nd minute as Westlake gathered a Rawlins header, but Welton immediately broke back and a defensive clearance that cannoned off a Welton attacker only just trickled past the post for a Frome goal kick.

However, Welton took the lead in the 4th minute as their first corner of the match was swung in well from the left wing, and the unmarked Lewis was able to glance the ball just enough to cause it to rise over Fey and into the top of the far corner of the net.

Frome went looking for the equaliser, and in the 10th minute, a run and shot from Allison was pushed out by Westlake and while the crowd expected an overhead kick, Mark Salter tried to back head the ball into the net but managed to put it several feet wide of the post.

Cowler had to be alert in the 26th minute as he produced an excellent block tackle to block a shot that looked to be heading for the net, and in the 36th minute, Westlake appeared to only partially clear a shot and then flatten Salter as he reclaimed the ball, prompting loud claims for a penalty, with the referee strangely giving the free kick in the favour of the Welton goalkeeper.

Westlake was again involved in the 40th minute as he produced an excellent save from a close range Rawlins header to preserve Welton's lead, and they nearly extended the lead in the 49th minute as a well taken right wing corner was headed on by Evans and was only just headed off the line by Rawlins who had been stationed on the far post.

As the ball went to safety, one or two Welton players were asking if the ball had crossed the line, but the referee blew for half time and the players started walking off, but then suddenly it all kicked off, with virtually all the players, substitutes and playing staff from both sides involved in a pushing and shoving match that seemed to go on for a couple of minutes.

Eventually order was restored, and it took a couple of minute of the second half to realise that Frome's Kennedy and Welton's Lewis had been shown red cards during the half time interval, and that both teams were now playing with 10 men.

However none of the bad feeling was carried over into the second half, and it was played with good spirit right from the start.

The first 10 minutes were pretty even, and then Frome had a golden chance to take the lead in the 56th minute as an Allison corner found Lapham completely unmarked 12 yards from goal, but the header missed the goal by 10 yards or so.

Frome did equalise in the 64th minute as Cheeseman went to head a right wing throw in, but the ball struck the upraised hand of a Welton defender, the penalty was given, and Salter easily scored with a very well taken penalty high to the left of Westlake.

Welton continued to look dangerous, and in the 67th minute Boys started and finished a good passing move that ended with Fey saving the shot well.

Fey was again called into action in the 84th minute and did wellto save low to his right, but the ball rebounded to a Welton attacker and the shot was going into the net until Cheeseman produced a miraculous piece of play to somehow hook the ball out from under his own cross bar.

Quite how he managed it, nobody knows, but it was a very impressive save.

With both sides chasing the winner, the best chance fell to Frome in the 87th minute as a Salter flicked a header through to Caslake who found himself clean through on goal, but faced with the advancing form of Westlake, he snatched at his shot and the ball flew 5 yards wide of the post.

Fey saved a 30 yard shot well in the 88th minute and Frome had the chance to win it in the 91st minute as Cheeseman flicked a header onto Salter, but his shot on the turn cleared the bar by several feet, leaving honours even.

Dan Harvey was presented with the Man of the Match award by Gary Collinson on behalf of Clive Lewis Financial who sponsored the match, the match ball and the programme.

Frome Team: Fey, Cowler (Caslake 71), Missiato, Harvey, Cheeseman, Burke, Lapham, Kennedy, Salter, Rawlins ( Millard 75), Allison: Sub not used: Bryant

Welton Team: Westlake, Dando, Boys, Hudson, Beaverstock, Blake, Billing, Catley, Lewis, Evand, Coles. Subs: Colbourne, Brain, Pawley

Frome Scorers: Salter (54 pen) Welton Scorers:Lewis (4)

Crowd: 128

Man of the Match: Dan Harvey