Frome Cricket Club 2nds' quest for promotion to the Somerset Premier ended in disappointment on Saturday as they came up agonisingly short in their winner-takes-all clash against Long Sutton at Fromefield.

In an incredible game which swung dramatically one way then the other on many occasions, it was the visitors who just managed to just squeak over the line.

Despite the understandable dejection, the Showmen can look back on an exciting 2019 with immense pride – confounding many pre-season predictions of "relegation candidates" to come within a whisker of a stunning promotion.

A tense day began overcast with some scattered showers around. Despite the overhead conditions Frome won the toss and elected to bat, with the aim of getting runs on the board and setting up a nervous chase for the visitors.

After a bright start, a heavy shower forced the players off for a 20-minute break, and on the resumption opening bowler Sparrow used the early conditions expertly to deliver a testing spell – getting his just rewards when Leonard flashed to point.

Potter and Gullock battled hard to push the score on, however when both departed in the space of two balls Frome had slipped to 41-3 and were in trouble.

With the visitors in the ascendancy Jon Dredge and Joe Smart dug in to battle through a tough spell of pressure.

Showing immense concentration and bottle to not panic despite a low scoring rate, the pair nudged the Showmen up to the 100-mark after 35 overs.

With a platform set both pressed the accelerator and cashed in during the final 10 overs – Smart (57) in particular providing a vital late innings surge with a superb half century containing five brutal sixes.

When he was eventually dismissed the pair had added an outstanding 110 together, and Jon Dredge (56*) continued the fight with some clean striking to register a fine half century of his own. The innings eventually closing on 180-5 with Frome very much in the game.

Long Sutton's reply started solidly, with openers Andrews and Vigar battling through the early overs as Frome came at them hard.

However, when a fired-up Collis dismissed them both and a fine running catch from Cantrell saw Phillips hole out to Smart – the visitors had slipped to 44-3 and the Showmen were suddenly on top.

This brought Lazarides to the crease who then counter-attacked impressively to claw back the initiative.

Some clean striking put Frome on the back foot, and despite Cook's dismissal he found a solid ally in Sparrow to help him register a powerful half-century.

As the score advanced to 137-4 the game looked up – however the drama was just about to begin.

Needing inspiration, Collis (3-30) returned to bowl Lazardies for 54, and when Arthur Harman drew an error from Burt the following over the game was suddenly back in the balance at 138-6.

With Sparrow still at the crease, though, the visitors still held the edge, and despite the further loss of Lyons a brace of boundaries pushed Long Sutton to the brink of victory at 174-7.

With promotion in sight, however, a calamitous mix up reminiscent of Klusener and Donald in 1999 saw Sparrow (39) stranded and run out to crank up the tension.

A raucous boundary from Herridge brought the scores level but when he departed LBW to Mark Harman next ball, Long Sutton were 180-9.

Scores level, nerves shredded - one more run would send the visitors up - one more wicket would gain Frome a tie that would seal promotion for them.

With a whole season's efforts boiling down to one ball, number 11 Long showed immense nerve to angle through third man for the winning run and spark jubilation for the visitors on the sidelines.

An incredible end to a topsy-turvy promotion race with Frome sadly missing out by the finest of margins, eventually finishing fourth in the table.

While the raw disappointment will take a while to get over, when the dust finally settles on an enthralling season, Frome can look back on their efforts with immense pride.

Smashing expectations, playing some outstanding cricket, being involved in several superb tight games and making many friends along the way - 2019 can only be viewed as a successful summer for the side.

Having had a taste of challenging at the top end of the table, the team will be keen to learn from the experiences of this year and have another crack in 2020. 

For now, though, a massive thank you to every player who's given their all for the Showmen this season, along with the countless number of people who've contributed in so many other ways to such an enjoyable summer.

Result:

Frome 2nd XI – 180-5 (J. Smart 57, J. Dredge 56*)