**FROLESWORTH UNITED 3-1 HAMILTON UNITED**
SAM YOUNG hit a sensational hat-trick inside the opening half-hour on his return to the Frolesworth fold, as he fired United into the Quarter Final of the F.A Intermediate Cup for the first time in their history at the expense of Melton & District Premier Division outfit Hamilton United.
The Rabbits had been out of action for over a fortnight due to the freezing conditions and they raced out of the traps to take the lead after just seven minutes. Young then notched another two in a five-minute salvo to ensure he took home the match ball, but Matt Errington’s clean sheet was blemished as captain Mark Baker conceded Frolesworth’s fourth penalty in as many games.
United’s trip to Leicester Academicals and this fixture had both fallen foul of the weather in the previous fortnight, but manager Ben Harris was certainly relishing the re-arranged Round Three tie as he welcomed back two of the club’s prodigal sons.
Dominic Ivens and Josh van Allen both returned from Lincoln Land Loggers, and Young was available following parent club Gilmorton’s exit from the F.A Premier Cup at the hands of Alliance League Glenfield Town in the previous round.
All three were thrust into the starting XI with van Allen partnering Luke Evans, Ivens lining up on the left and Young leading the line. Harris surprisingly replaced last week’s man of the match, Matt Pell, with Mark James and Jack Rudman returned to left-back.
But that decision was vindicated inside the opening 10 minutes, as James set Young free with a sumptuous ball over the top. Running in behind, he broke the offside trap to pick up from where he left off against Horse in Round One.
He had to wait until the 23rd minute to double his adopted side’s advantage though, this time via means slightly more fortuitous. He drifted what initially appeared to be a harmless free-kick into the box, but the visiting keeper completely misjudged the flight of the ball and it flew past him into the stanchion.
Finally, a little bit of luck going the way of the Country Boys.
There was nothing fortunate about Frolesworth’s and Young’s third goal, however, as he made it five in just 120 minutes of football for the Clarets this season. Pantony, who was unusually quiet by his own admission, turned midway inside the opposing half and slipped a typically intelligent ball across the face of the goal for the imperious front man to complete a dream start for the hosts.
But the visitors were gifted a lifeline, in somewhat contentious circumstances, moments before the break. Captain Baker, who scored an own goal and was sent off in Frolesworth’s last outing, was caught for pace in behind and he was harshly penalised for a push in the area.
Whilst he was left cursing his luck, his protests once again fell on deaf ears and Hamilton gave themselves a glimmer of hope. However, it would merely prove to be a consolation as Harris’ side expertly killed the game off in a fairly drab second half affair.
Frolesworth will now be eagerly anticipating the draw for the last eight, especially with previously unbeaten Kirby Muxloe Rangers crashing out at the hands of Swan & Hove Albion, and will be confident they can dispatch of any side left in the draw should they get a home tie.
FROLESWORTH: ERRINGTON 8, RUDMAN 6, BAKER 6, BOULTON 6, JAMES 7, VAN ALLEN 7, EVANS 8 (MOM), IVENS 6, PANTONY 6, COOK 6, YOUNG 9. SUBS: SWANWICK 6, BOTTOM 6, FINNIGAN 6.
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