**LEICESTER ACADEMICALS 5-4 FROLESWORTH UNITED**
FROLESWORTH UNITED began their 2009/10 campaign in disastrous fashion by throwing away a seemingly invincible four-goal lead to succumb to defeat at the hands of newly relegated Leicester Academicals.
The defeat left manager Ben Harris seething and he branded the referee “an absolute disgrace,” after failing to award his side a blatant penalty at the start of the second period with the Rabbits cruising at 4-1.
Harris handed the captain’s armband to striker Joe Cook and he rewarded his manager by giving the visitors a dream start inside just 30 seconds by capitalising on a short back-pass to neatly slot into the far corner.
And the Rabbits doubled their advantage just moments later, when Matt Errington was coolness personified as he slotted home after Jack Boulton flicked on Mark James’ long-throw.
James’ juggernaut would cause the hosts further problems and Joe Swanwick sent the visiting fans into delirium by prodding home a third inside fifteen minutes.
Things would get even better for the team in claret, when Swanwick was given the freedom of Manor Road to nod home his second and an incredible fourth on the 20 minute mark and spark pandemonium in the away end.
The hosts then notched what appeared to be an early consolation in the 25th minute, but it would ultimately be the catalyst in their remarkable second-half revival.
However, the game hinged on a major refereeing error just after the break, when United were denied a stonewall penalty. Midfield debutant Greg Garner had already shown two defenders a clean pair of heels before being scythed down when he was clean through on goal.
The referee later claimed that the youngster had ”fallen over,” despite not dishing out a yellow card for diving, before appearing to threaten the Frolesworth coaching staff when they approached him at full-time.
The decision left Frolesworth visibly demoralised and they conceded a sloppy second soon after. Daniel Carvin then made a wonderful fingertip save before Miles Splevings saw his superb drive turned over the bar at the other end.
But more desolate defending from the visitors enabled a simple tap in at the back post, and to everyone’s disbelief it was 4-4 with ten minutes remaining after a Carvin error handed the hosts another.
But there was to be one more sting in the tail when Frolesworth’s capitulation was complete five minutes from time and Splevings missed a great chance to snatch back a point as they returned to the Warren empty handed.
Ben Harris promised the fans a fresh start and a “new Frolesworth,” but it was ultimately to be the same old story for Frolly, meanwhile, there are likely to be severe repercussions after the unsavoury scenes, which greeted the full-time whistle.
For Every Man A Religion.
The People's Club.
F.U.F.C
