Frome Town turned on the form to produce a scintillating performance which overwhelmed Sherborne Town.

With the welcome return of Greg Lake to the side from Team Bath, the inclusion of Tiverton defender Nathan Rudge and Joe Gomes starting his first game for 5 months, the side had a balanced look to it, and the match was to prove the case.

On a cool, still night and a superb pitch, the occasion seemed set for a good game of football, and it certainly started the right way as, in the 3rd minute, a Cheeseman free kick was headed across goal by Salter, Percival drove the ball back across the goal and Lake almost scored with his first kick as his shot took a deflection onto the post and rebounded harmlessly into play.

Frome continued the way they had started, and for the first 20 minutes, it was one way traffic as they produced a top class display of passing, attacking football that led to numerous free kicks and corners. With Gomes showing his expertise at dead ball situations, these led to numerous chances as Rudge, Cheeseman, Cowler, Salter and Lake were all causing problems in the Sherborne defence with their aerial prowess.

It seemed that the opening goal had to come, and it arrived in the 29th minute as Gomes looked up and produced a superb crossfield ball from the left wing that was met with the sweetest of volleys by Allison on the right, the ball struck across the face of the goal and curving just inside the far post.

With Sherborne attacking sporadically, Frome just continued pressing. With Lake and Gomes combining brilliantly on the left, the whole side looked balanced and started to play with a confidence that has been missing for a few weeks, every player upped his game and it was good to watch.

Burke went close in the 30th minute with a shot that hit the stanchion after another passing move that involved five players, Allison produced a cross to Salter in the 42nd minute that was just saved and a replay in the last minute of the half again almost led to a goal.

At half time, Frome were well worth their lead, and they almost increased it in the 47th minute as a 25 yard Lake shot was just pushed round the post by Nibbs in the visitor's goal. The resulting left wing corner was swung in perfectly by Gomes and the unmarked Rudge scored with a powerful header from 6 yards to make the score 2-0 to Frome.

Frome continued to produce great passing football, but Sherborne seemed to have found their game, and the second half produced turned into an excellent game of "end to end football".

Frome were a little fortunate in the 58th minute as Rudge intercepted a low cross and, attempting to clear the ball, managed to hit his own cross bar, with Fey able to gather the ball as it came down.

At the other end, Allison and Salter were hitting top form, and in the 61st minute an excellent Salter run led to Allison shooting over the bar, and in the 68th minute, Allison returned the compliment, and this time it was Salter who managed to shoot wide.

Sherborne were unlucky in the 72nd minute as a 25yard dipping volley struck the underside of the Frome bar, bounced down on the line and then out again, but one minute later it was Frome who increased their lead as a Lake left wing cross found Salter, who perfectly laid the ball into the path of Gomes who hit a low 20 yard right foot shot just inside the far for another top quality goal.

Yet another top notch goal in the 80th minute saw Frome go 4-0 up, as a brilliant Missiato pass set Allison free on the right wing, he cut inside, beat one defender and crossed to the far post where Salter headed home from 10 yards for a well deserved goal.

To their credit, Sherborne kept counter attacking, but they were caught out again in the 86th minute as a sweeping move involving Rudge, Allison, Lake and Salter led to the ball being delivered perfectly to the far post where Millard drove the ball home from close range for yet another quality goal.

Sherbone went close a couple of times in the dying moments, and in truth, they deserved a goal for their contribution to the match, but it wasn't to be, and Frome recorded their second highest victory of the season to win 5-0.

This match was a pleasure to watch, and it bodes well for the visit of champions Bitton on Friday night. It could well be a classic.

Sim Allison was presented with the Man of the Match award by Rich Gould who sponsored the match.