Match Report: Frome Town 1 Torquay United 4

Injury-hit Torquay United made light of fielding a patched-up side to sweep Southern League Frome Town aside and reach the Fourth Round of the FA Trophy in style at Badgers Hill.

On-loan Fleetwood Town striker Theo Williams and defender Ollie Tomlinson gave Gary Johnson’s Gulls a 2-0 lead at half-time in Somerset – with the help of a Rhys Lovett penalty save.

Williams made it 3-0 before Will Jenkins Davies, just back for a second loan spell from Plymouth Argyle, put the tie to bed.

Frome did pull a goal back through Sam Meakes, but they couldn’t have complained if United had run out easier winners.

It was another £4,500 in prizemoney banked, and a last-32 date on January 13.

Without ten senior players – nine injured or cup-tied (Ethon Archer) – United fielded a much-changed side.

Reserve goalkeeper Rhys Lovett returned to the defence, where first-year pro Calum Thomas made his first start.

Also thrust into the action for the first time was Youth prospect Jacob Wellington in midfield, and Johnson sprung a surprise by playing fit-again defender Ross Marshall as a makeshift centre-forward.

Four more Academy teenagers – Charlie Wills, Harvey Coggins, Thomas Chastey and Kai Swann – were named on the bench, along with midfielder Jenkins Davies, who had been re-signed from Plymouth on Friday.

It took a while for United to get to grips with the conditions – they played up the slope and into a blustery wind.

Lovett made an early regulation save from Alex Monks, and attacking left-back Ross Staley was also a threat for Frome.

Williams’ pace was key to the Gulls’ attacking ambitions, and in the 18th minute he made it count. Ryan Hanson supplied the through-ball and Williams delivered a cool, firm finishing shot across Kyle Phillips...1-0.

In the 29th minute it was 2-0, with a very different but even more spectacular goal.

Frome only half-cleared a United set-piece and Tomlinson gave Phillips no chance with a stunning volley from just inside the area.

Only four minutes later Frome had a chance to get themselves back into the match.

Kane Simpson kept the ball in play by the by-line, Archie Harris’ challenge was maybe a little rash but hardly heavy, but it was enough for referee Stephen Parkinson to point to the spot.

Up stepped Jon Davies, but his low shot was neither strong nor accurate enough to stop Lovett pulling off a good save.

Frome did their best to make up for that miss towards the end of the first half, Staley going close with a good chance and Lovett saving well from Robinson.

But 2-0 was a healthy ‘cushion’ for United, and they soon filled it up in the second half.

After Brett McGavin went close with a free-kick just over ‘wall’ and bar, he then produced the telling pass for Williams to make it 3-0 in the 61st minute.

Johnson immediately sent on Jenkins Davies, and within seconds the 19-year-old Pilgrim had made it 4-0.

Phillips denied Marshall as United began to put together a series of increasingly confident moves. It was winger Swann for McGavin with 20 minutes to go.

Frome, with nothing to lose, threw men forward, caring little about being caught on the counter, and they were rewarded in the 73rd minute when Sam Meakes netted.

Marshall, visibly keen to complete his afternoon in attack with a goal, forced Phillips to a smart save from Williams’ pass before Johnson took off the busy Fleetwood loanee and sent on another debutant, Chastey.

United saw the game out well in the closing stages, always threatening to add to their tally.

Frome Town (4-4-2): Phillips; Maidment, Teale, Mitchell, Staley (Day 60), Monks, Davies, Rigg, Drew; Simpson, Meakes (Ollis 80); subs not used – Summerfield, Wood, Budd, Roberts, Taylor.

Booked: Teale 35, Davies 46, Monks 90+2.

Torquay United (4-1-3-2): Lovett; Crowe, Tomlinson, Thomas, Harris; McGavin (Swann 70), Wellington (Jenkins Davies 62), Hanson, Collins; Marshall, Williams (Chastey 83); subs not used – Halstead, Wills, Coggins.

Booked: Lovett 85.

Referee: Stephen Parkinson (Watford).

Attendance: 1,305.