**GLENFIELD TOWN 1-4 FROLESWORTH UNITED**
FROLESWORTH United reached Round Two of the Arthur Moore Cup for the first time in their history after humbling Premier Division outfit Glenfield Town at Gynsil Lane on Sunday morning.
Ben Harris described the performance as, “certainly the best so far this season,” after crushing last season’s Division One Champions and FA Intermediate Cup finalists with apparent ease.
A first-half double from striker Miles Splevings and a second goal in as many games for Greg Garner and Sam Palmer ensured the Rabbits’ passage through to the next round was secured in spectacular style.
Harris made four changes from the side that slipped to defeat against a much-fancied Sparta Moshdock last week, handing Joe Wilson, Martin Fennon and Josh Baines their first starts in a new-look back four, whilst Palmer was given the nod over captain Joe Cook to partner Splevings up front.
Frolesworth were quick out of the traps once again and stand-in skipper Jake Pantony warmed the Town keeper’s hands with a curling free kick as early as the third minute.
The Rabbits took the lead soon after when Matin Finnigan’s long clearance was superbly help up by Palmer, and the target man released his pacy strike partner Splevings who somehow squeezed his way past two defenders to nudge the ball home.
Glenfield’s response came from a long-range free kick, which sailed harmlessly wide of Luke Evans’ far-post before Frolesworth asserted their dominance once again through the energetic Splevings.
The 16-year-old striker fired a low drive to the keeper’s left-hand side moments ahead of fizzing an effort just past the upright after Finnigan’s neat pass inside, before the left-winger himself curled narrowly wide after Pantony’s mazy dribble.
But six minutes before the interval, the Division One outfit doubled their advantage with Splevings netting his fifth of the season.
Steven Bottom, making his second appearance in claret lifted the ball back into the danger zone and after Jack Boulton made a nuisance of himself it fell to Splevings whose drive squirmed through the legs of the home side’s keeper.
Harris, however, would have been disappointed as his side failed to deny the Premier Division strugglers before the break, and they forced themselves back into the tie in the dying seconds of the opening period.
Keeper Evans was left flat-footed and could only flap at Sheldon Mackenzie-Dodds’ superb volley, which flew beyond the keeper’s grasp into the far corner.
Harris sent his troops in search of the killer third goal after the interval, and it was Palmer and Splevings who would combine again to threaten once more, with the latter firing another low drive into the keeper’s arms.
Frolesworth, however, would not be repelled for much longer and the ever-impressive Garner put the game to bed with arguably the goal of the season so far on the hour mark.
He picked the ball up inside his own half and after turning his marker with a fabulous ‘Cruyff’ turn, he ran at the heart of the Glenfield defence, hurdling a wild challenge before regaining his composure to send an audacious dink over the scrambling goalkeeper.
Baines then sent a vicious free-kick just wide of the post eleven minutes later, and Finnigan saw his close range effort denied before Harris introduced Cook into the fray after having disciplined the captain for inexplicably missing last week’s defeat at the hands of Sparta Moshdock.
United then sat back and soaked up the hosts’ pressure and man-of-the-match Palmer put the icing on the cake for the visitors seven minutes from time, heading home a Pantony corner to deservedly etch his name onto the score sheet.
Frolesworth will be full of confidence ahead of next week’s home clash with Division Three promotion candidates Sunbury United in Round Three of the Billy Walton Cup, after arguably the most accomplished display in their short history.
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