FROME Town and Chippenham Town must battle again at Hardenhuish Park on Tuesday evening after a goalless Friday night draw in Somerset.

Chippenham will be the happier after last night's encounter, especially as they had to play three-quarters of the match with 10 men after Ashan Holgate received a straight red for a two-footed lunge.

Frome skipper Sam Teale was fortunate to only receive a yellow card for his part in the ensuring melee.

Frome manager Nick Bunyard pulled two late rabbits out of the hat with the signings of centre back pair Ollie Knowles and Jordy Nkunga, who added much needed stability to the Robins' back line.

The home side opened the brightest with Rob Hobbs and Steve Hulbert both shooting wide whilst Nkunga's 40-yard drive cannoned off the crossbar.

On the quarter of the hour mark Michael Pook found James Guthrie who cut in and fired a low shot that Darren Chitty saved.

After Holgate's 22nd-minute dismissal, Lewis Haldane shot wide of the Chippenham goal, before Chippenham lost Pook to injury on the half hour.

Just before the break Frome fashioned their best chance of the opening period that ended with Darren Jefferies cutting in and his low shot drew a fine save from Kent Kauppinen.

After the interval Kauppinen was again called on this time to deny Steve Hulbert.

On 58 minutes Luke Ballinger's shot was blocked and the ball fell to Matt Jones who fired wide.

Frome substitute Joe Tumelty then failed to hit the target from inside the area.

Seven minutes from time substitute Lee Phillips pulled the ball back to Guthrie who shot over.

Ballinger could have settled the tie a minute from time when Matt Smith's ball saw the former's angled shot beat Chitty but roll just past the far post.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, a disputed Frome corner eventually fell to Knowles whose flick saw an alert Kauppinen dive on the ball.

Frome: Chitty, Miller (Hutchings 61), Teale, Nkunga, Knowles, Hulbert S, Hulbert R (Thompson 59), Hobbs, Sibbick, Haldane (Tumelty 66), Jefferies.

Subs not used: Worlock, Minnis, Stradling, Horgan.

Chippenham: Kauppinen, Ballinger, Jones (Bevan 89), Pook (McCormack 30), Tindle, Preece, Ferguson, Smith, Holgate, Taylor (Phillips 82), Guthrie.

Subs not used: Campbell, Harvey.

Refere: Mark Lucas (Southsea).

Attendance: 370