Neither side mastered the conditions in a rather drab game, with the blustery wind and the hard pitch making it difficult for both sides.

There were few goal-scoring chances, but the Crusaders’ Mark Draycott was unlucky when he hit the post from close range near the end, before man-of-the-match Jack Vallis headed a late winner to give the home side the points,

The majority of a bumper crowd of 512 – boosted by Frome’s decision to let spectators pay whatever they wanted – went away happy as their good run continued, reducing potential relegation fears.

Hungerford played into the wind in the opening 45 minutes, and while this sometimes made progress difficult, the home side found that the ball often ran away ahead of the attack and there were few attempts on goal.

Alan O’Brien broke down the left for the visitors but was injured as he tried to cross the ball in the first few minutes and, although he continued for some time, he was replaced by Dean Stow before the interval.

Before he departed he put over an inswinging corner which was hooked wide and James Clark’s cross was scrambled away.

Frome went nearest however, when Paul Strudley deflected the ball onto the post and collected the rebound safely, whilst Clark shot high and wide near the end of a poor first half.

With the wind behind the visitors, they should have been able to put the Frome defence under more pressure, but neither side found it easy to master the conditions and It began to look more and more like a goalless draw and it always looked as if a single goal would earn the points.

Frome had a let-off when Draycott hit the post from close range but the ball was deflected wide for a goal-kick.

The decisive moment came five minutes from time when Harry Goodger appeared to be sandwiched as he went up for a header, but the ball ran free and Frome were awarded the free-kick on the edge of the centre circle. Matt Smith drove a good effort into the penalty area for Vallis, who had won everything in the air in a solid display at the centre of the home defence, got above everyone and headed home.

The result meant Hungerford dropped to fifth in the table, with Truro leapfrogging Bobby Wilkinson’s men. St.Neots drew level on points with a game in hand after thrashing Cirencester Town 4-0, and they host the Crusaders in a pivotal game on Saturday (3pm).

Newbury FC

NEWBURY Town won their Bluefin Sport Supplementary Challenge Cup third round tie 1-0 against Highworth Town last Tuesday.

They were due to play North Leigh United in the semi-final of the Flying Press Floodlit Cup on Tuesday before visiting Wokingham & Emmbrook in the Reading Senior Cup on Saturday (2pm).

Thatcham Town

THATCHAM Town were set to host title favourites Flackwell Heath in the Hellenic League Premier Division on Tuesday, before welcoming Brimscombe & Thrupp to Waterside Park on Saturday (3pm).