EVO-STIK LEAGUE SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION: Perrin refuses to get carried away with Hitchin triumph
9:30am Sunday 10th March 2013 in Latest Sport News By Dan Barnes
Frome Town manager Darren Perrin saw his side beat Hitchin yesterday
DARREN Perrin is urging his Frome Town players to keep their feet on the ground after yesterday's crucial victory in the battle to beat the drop in the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division.
The Robins ended their 13-match winless run in the league and hauled themselves out of the bottom two with a 2-1 triumph over Hitchin Town.
Darren Chitty starred with a string of important saves, as did winger Jordan Copp, who netted a spectacular winning goal, but Perrin is erring on the side of caution.
“The nerves might have got the better of us in the first 20 minutes and we were indebted to our goalkeeper. We didn't start well and could have been two or three nil down,” said the Frome manager.
“Tactically, you could say that me and my staff got it wrong with 4-4-2 - we changed it and I thought that we deserved to be the winners.
“It is a massive three points but it is only three points and that's why there aren't any stupid celebrations or things like that.
“There are still nine or ten big games to come for us yet.
“This win means nothing if we don't go to Totton on Tuesday night and get some sort of result there.”
Perrin was also full of praise for former Plymouth Argyle youngster Copp, who was the victim of a verbal ear-bashing from his boss in the first half before going on to score a spectacular overhead kick.
“It was a goal worthy to win any game and he's got that ability – he's just naïve,” said the Robins chief.
“He's obviously just come out of the pro game and I think he's just got to realise that he's got to do the ugly things as well in this league but he was sensational in the second half.”
However Perrin was dismayed by an off-the-ball clash involving Ricky Hulbert late in the game, which saw the striker go down shortly after contesting the ball with opposition keeper Matt Bennett.
The Badgers Hill crowd were baying for a red card for the Hitchin man but referee Matt Rushton opted to give a free-kick to the away side.
“My bench saw what happened – the lad's punched him off the ball,” said Perrin.
“And by all accounts from my players, the linesman's told him that and the referee has overruled it.
“It would have been a penalty and you'd back yourself to score that – that could be another goal to add to your goal difference.”
Josh Brigham returns to the Frome squad for next Tuesday's trip to mid-table AFC Totton.
But Mike Perrott is serving the final game of a two-match suspension, with Mark Cooper, Kyle Lapham, Tom Evans and Lewis Powell all still injured.
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