Late goals sees brave effort by City youngsters end in defeat

A youthful City side were beaten 3-1 by Frome Town this evening at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park in the semi-final of the Francis Hillier Premier Cup. City’s outfield line-up consisted entirely of academy players but it took two goals in the final ten minutes for a Robins side on a 30 match unbeaten run to progress to the final.

After Charlie Binns produced an excellent 10th minute save to deny Meakes, City stunned the visitors by taking the lead on 21 minutes. A Louis Sweeten free-kick was only cleared as far as Sam Stirling and he fired the ball home from 16 yards. Frome equalised on 36 minutes when a ball over the top found Meakes to shoot past Binns.

Into the second half the Robins began to dominate possession but City continued to match them physically and restrict them to very few sights of goal. Just past the hour mark Binns saved well from Meakes then a couple of minutes later a former City Academy player Wakefield shot narrowly wide. Their best chance came on 68 minutes when Heal’s cross picked out an unmarked Druru but he headed into the ground and over the bar. City’s brave resistance was finally broken with ten minutes later when Binns could only parry Druru’s shot into the path of Wakefield and he made no mistake from six yards. Six minutes later Frome added a third goal when a low cross was turned home by Hopkins from close range. City almost pulled a goal back in stoppage time when substitute Finley Siddorn’s shot was blocked on the line after keeper Brabham spilled a cross.