HARRY Simmons was once again the hero, as another late strike rescued a much-deserved point for United against last season’s finalists GT to keep their hopes of reaching the Arthur Moore Cup Quarter-Finals still alive.
The 18-year-old target man, who nodded a dramatic last-gasp leveller in the famous 5-5 draw with local rivals Dunton & Broughton Rangers earlier this season, was at it once again as he fired home in the dying second to spark delirium on the touchline and also preserve United’s remarkable unbeaten home status.
Ben Harris’ side had earlier fallen behind against the run of play, as Premier League GT looked set to book their place in the last eight courtesy of Daz Taylor’s low drive, but Simmons had other ideas when he latched onto second-half substitute Jack Boulton’s pass to set up a ‘winner takes all’ clash with fellow Division One promotion-chasers Throops in the final group game.
United went into the game off the back of an impressive 5-0 rout against Thurmaston Progressive WMC a staggering five weeks ago, after the big freeze had once again played havoc with their already congested fixture schedule.
And the gaffer was left extremely frustrated as he awoke to the news from his assistant that he would be without five first-team regulars, as Martin Fennon, Jack Sutherland, Miles Splevings, Tom Stokes and Joe Cook were all absent.
As a result, he opted to employ the rather more defensive 4-5-1 formation instead of the accustomed 4-4-2, in an attempt to frustrate the Premier League high-fliers.
Sam Green retained his place in goal, while Joe Swanwick was handed his third start of the season at right-back alongside skipper Mark James, Harvey Morgan and Max ‘Psycho’ Hallam.
Club secretary Luke Evans returned in midfield and he was fantastic in providing a platform for the talismanic Jake Pantony and playmaker Dom Ivens to dictate the pace of the game, whilst Sam Pratt was pushed further forward, with joint top-scorer Callum Wills once again on the left behind lone-wolf Simmons.
But Frolesworth, who set-up as if they were content to sit off in their own half, began the better side with the extra man in midfield and they carved the first decent opening, albeit from long-range.
Wills’ jinking run was thwarted on the edge of the box, but when the ball spilled out the onrushing Ivens met it with a thumping drive, though it was always on the rise.
The makeshift left-winger was on the rampage again soon after, this time driving from midway inside his own half before taking the ball on his weaker left foot and stumping the foot of the upright with the keeper beaten.
United weren’t afraid of pushing high up the pitch and applying pressure on their visitors, who were intent on playing a passing game, but they were extremely fortunate again not to concede the opening goal after Simmons bravely won possession, but he squandered a promising opening with an ambitious effort from range when he had options either side.
It was only a matter of time though before the visitors hit their stride and shortly before the break, they fashioned their first opening when Taylor glanced his header narrowly wide of the post after a teasing cross from the near side.
It was a timely warning that United must gain the initiative whilst they were on top, but just after the break they were dealt a cruel blow when danger man Wills was forced off with a potentially serious ankle injury.
Whilst he was receiving treatment on the sidelines, 10-man Frolesworth rallied as the game began to open up and Ivens saw his shot blocked en route to goal before at the other end, Swanwick once again bravely threw himself in front of a goal-bound attempt.
But typically, it was the visitors who opened the scoring largely against the run of play after Hallam, who had been impressive throughout, gifted possession midway inside his own half and he was punished by the prolific Taylor.
It was harsh on Frolesworth, but Harris has instilled belief and a never say die attitude amongst his young troops this season and they have gained a reputation as the comeback kids following a string of late fight-backs.
It was perhaps a surprise that the manager chose to withdraw midfield magician Pantony, but for one reason or another, last season’s player of the year is yet to open his account for this campaign and after another tireless shift in the heart of midfield, he was replaced by Jack Boulton as United threw caution to the wind and two up top.
After having arrived at Dunley Way just moments earlier following a long journey back from Norfolk and no stranger to late goals himself, it was in some bizarre twist of fate that Boulton’s intelligent pass found Simmons in space.
Having barely had a sniff all afternoon, Simmons composed himself before firing home another dramatic late leveller with his weaker foot to spark a warm embrace between Harris and his assistant Jordan Halford on the touchline and a sea of claret shirts piled atop one another in the far corner.
The result means United currently occupy third spot in Group C on four points alongside Throops, but with GT having finished on six points, a draw is good for nothing in the final group game as should there be a winner, they will qualify for the last eight.
With a full strength side out, it is highly conceivable that United would have beaten last season’s finalists, as the Rabbits proved further that they are taking giant strides towards competing in the top-flight.
But it is back to the bread and butter of the league this weekend, as Frolesworth travel to Dorothy Avenue to face bottom side Glen Parva off the back of four games without defeat, their longest sequence this season.
However, the Clarets have lost all three trips to Parva, though they will be keen to arrest that statistic and move within just one point of table-toppers Star & Garter.
FROLESWORTH - GREEN 8, SWANWICK 9, JAMES © 8, MORGAN 8, HALLAM 8, EVANS 9, PANTONY 8, IVENS 8, WILLS 8, PRATT 8, SIMMONS 9
SUBS – BAINES 7, BOULTON 7
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