**FROLESWORTH UNITED 4-3 HORSE**
FROLESWORTH United returned to winning ways for the first time in the league since Sunday, 20th September, albeit with an unconvincing performance against struggling Horse.
Temporary Assistant Manager Jordan Halford said, “It was a much needed three points,” after his side survived a second half scare to clinch their second home win of the campaign.
The Rabbits were cruising at the break after Sam Palmer, captain Joe Cook and Jake Pantony had put the hosts in control, and despite a two-minute double salvo from the visitors, Palmer put the result beyond doubt with his second eight minutes from time.
Manager Ben Harris remained exiled in Nottingham and Chairman Josh Baines was also absent from the Warren, so team selection was left to Halford. The injured striker, only weeks away from making a return, made just one change to the side that were slaughtered 5-1 at the hands of Glen Parva.
Martin Finnigan returned on the left-hand side at the expense of Baines, after missing last week due to personal problems. Meanwhile, Matt Errington returned to the bench alongside Miles Splevings, whilst the whereabouts of Matt Pell remained unknown and Mark James was withdrawn from the squad after flaring up a recurring injury during the warm up.
Kick-off was delayed by half an hour and the disruptive preparations seemed to unsettle United, who were unusually slow to start. They were fortunate not to go a goal down after the visitors trickled a low drive off the upright with keeper Luke Evans scrambling across his goal line as early as the third minute.
But Frolesworth grew in stature as the opening exchanges wore on and after they had been quelled by the visiting keeper, they nudged themselves in front midway through the first period.
Pantony picked up the ball inside his own half on the left and sent a searching pass for Greg Garner, and the winger himself whipped a delicious cross to the back post, which was converted by Palmer.
The opener seemed to give the Clarets added impetus and they found themselves two goals to the good just minutes later. Pantony was again the provider, slipping a wonderful reverse ball through to Cook, who made no mistake by lashing the ball into the far corner.
Frolesworth were now beginning to relax and play some free-flowing football and they added a third in style nine minutes before the break. It was Cook this time who was enjoying freedom down the left-hand side, he galloped forward before elegantly back-heeling the ball into the path of Steven Bottom.
He then rolled the ball square across the box to midfield partner Pantony and the number 8 jinked past two static defenders, before rounding the keeper and effortlessly sliding the ball into the empty net.
United continued to dominate at the start of the second half and they should have put the game beyond doubt five minutes after the restart.
Bottom found Garner on the right and the tricky winger delivered another telling cross to the back-post, but Cook somehow contrived to miss from inside the six-yard box with goal at his mercy.
And it was a chance that the home side would rue, as the visitors rallied and themselves missed a golden opportunity to drag themselves back into the game. Frolesworth’s inability to deal with the long throw proved their downfall again as Horse struck the woodwork for the second time.
But they ignited a glimmer of hope in the 65th minute, when another long throw caused havoc in the penalty box and the centre-forward, earlier involved in an altercation with Pantony, fired the loose ball home.
The Rabbits then hit the panic button and conceded another immediately from the restart. They surrendered possession and Horse, advancing down the left, stroked home a second with over twenty minutes to play.
Game on.
But Frolesworth, buoyed by the presence of midfield maestro Pantony calmed themselves down and he again began to dictate the game, before unleashing a moment of sheer class to ensure the points would remain at Hall Park.
He received the ball from Jack Rudman on the left and then sent a sumptuous, 40-yard cross-field ball to enable Palmer to notch his second and put the result beyond doubt.
Horse added another late on, but the home side expertly killed the game to move onto 11 points for the campaign, and bypass last season’s tally after just eight games. The Rabbits face a difficult away trip to Shakespeare Park next Sunday, with manager Ben Harris hoping his side can give him an early 20th birthday present.
http://www.teamstats.net/frolesworthunitedfc/
http://twitter.com/FEAR_FUFC
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=78446830679&ref=ts
For Every Man A Religion.
The People's Club.
F.U.F.C
