A below par display was good enough on the day for the Dragons to secure a draw in Somerset against Frome Town on Saturday and make the Southern League side return to the Camrose in order to settle who will progress to the third qualifying round.
With the draw having taken place on Monday, there was an even bigger incentive for Town to see off Frome in the replay this Tuesday, as on top of the financial reward the Dragons have been matched up against Combined Counties Hartley Wintney in what will be a true local derby.
If ’Stoke can progress, it will see Frank Gray and his side take on former Town striker Neville Roache and Scott Tarr, who are in charge off the field at Hartley, and a number of former first and reserve team players make up the playing staff.
The Dragons were forced into a major change on Saturday. With Rob Rice joining Ross Adams on the injury list, Town were short of defensive cover, so striker Tim Sills went into the centre of defence alongside Jay Gasson and Rob Gradwell started up front. Despite playing out of position, Sills had a fine game and despite the home side enjoying plenty of possession keeper Ashley Bayes was only called into action twice in the encounter.
At the other end of the park, the visitors missed the physical presence of Sills up front and as a result were unable to hold the ball up, creating precious little in terms of goal scoring opportunities. The game was played in glorious weather, better than at most times in the summer and in a dull first half the only benefit for the 300-strong crowd was a chance to top up the tan.
The hosts had a chance to take the lead on 25 minutes when Matt Smith was allowed to run unchecked with a clear chance on goal, but the mid-fielder's effort was weak, allowing Bayes to make the save. Town's only part in the first half was when referee Neil Radford waived away David Pratt's appeal for a penalty when the Dragons’ front man went down rather easily in the area.
Sills was called into action to make two near-post headers to clear Frome crosses and the home side pressurised with a number of corners while Luke Ballinger fired a shot from distance over the bar. The home side had enjoyed a lot of the game, but had nothing to show for it, with honours even at the break.
The home side came out in the second half and carried on where they had left off. It was beginning to look one of those days for the Dragons and that a 0-0 and replay would be a good result.
Defender Ryan Bennett had a good chance early on, his effort going over the bar, and Town had to wait just shy of the hour mark before they troubled Darren Chitty in the home net with Wes Daly volleying straight at him.
The home side continued to press with Gasson making a fine challenge to deny Kyle Tooze a chance to get in on goal. Town made a double substitution on 65 minutes, Matt Warner replacing Shaun McAuley and Jidi Ogunbote on for Delano Sam-Yorke, but the changes did little to alter the course of the game.
The home side made their quota of substitutions and it was one of these that almost stole the game five minutes from time.
With the help of the post, Bayes did well to save Shaun Benison's late effort, but in ‘added on’ time Town could have broken home hearts as Gradwell's header was parried by Chitty at close range and eventually hacked away by the home defence. Had the Dragons scored, it would have been harsh on the home side who were worthy of their replay.
Once the FA cup replay is out of the way, town will return briefly to league action with their first trip to Truro City on Saturday at 3pm.
Photograph by Lynda Partridge
