Three second-half goals helped Lynn see off brave Acle in the Norfolk Senior Cup tonight.

The Linnets – who play four levels above the Anglian Combination Premier Division high-fliers – took the lead through George Thomson's first-half penalty but only gained complete control of the quarter-final clash in the second half. Strikes from Jake Jones, Dan Quigley and Jack Frohawk, his first senior goal for the club, eventually made it look more comfortable than it had been for much of the tie on an evening where Gary Setchell's men booked their place in the last four.

The Ang Comb underdogs were always going to have to raise their game to stand any chance of living with Lynn. And they certainly did in the opening stages with the hosts looking off the pace and frequently giving the ball away.

Jack McGovern headed over early on but most of the running came from United with left-winger Adam Hipperson impressing. His vicious half-volley looked destined for the bottom corner until Alex Street pulled off a sensational save down low to his left-hand side to prevent a wonder goal. Acle's pacy wideman had one run cut short crudely by a combination of McGovern and Ryan Fryatt before he pulled another drive just wide of the home side's goal.

As Lynn searched for a spark, Thomson nearly provided it with a peach of a 30-yard free-kick. However, it flashed just inches past the post. The semi-professional team soon found a way to break the deadlock though in the 29th minute when referee Lee Betts adjudged Ewan Clarke had been fouled by Adam Faukes. Thomson made no mistake from the spot to put the Evo-Stik Premier Division club in front.

The goalscorer forced Scott Foreman into two decent stops with long-range attempts but that was it as the grassroots outfit continued to more than hold their own for the remainder of the period.

The last-eight tie continued to plod along after the break until the visitors nearly snatched an equaliser. Ollie Savage's crossfield ball found Daniel Anderson but his drive couldn't reach its intended target, namely the bottom corner.

Unsurprisingly, after such a sterling effort, the east coast club began to tire around the hour mark and Lynn pounced. Jordan Yong's cross-come-shot was controlled by Jones and he fired home for his second goal in as many games. Seven minutes later, captain-for-the-night Quigley, still looking like Terry Butcher after cutting his head at the weekend, nodded McGovern's free-kick home to make the game safe. And Frohawk made it a night to remember on a personal level with his landmark goal helping Lynn ease into the semis.

Anderson, denied by a fine double-save from Street, missed a couple of late chances as Acle were forced to return home without the consolation their efforts deserved.

Wisbech Town exited the Cambs Invitation Cup at the quarter-final stage following a 2-1 home defeat to same-level Cambridge Regional College (CRC).

Lynn (4-2-3-1): Street, Stocker, Fryatt, Ward, Yong, Butt (Frohawk, 55), McGovern, Quigley, Thomson (Lee, 55), Jones, E. Clarke (Hall, 77). Sub not used: R. Clarke. Booked: None. Goals: Thomson (pen. 30), Jones (63), Quigley (70), Frohawk (76).

Acle (4-5-1): S. Foreman, Randall, Savage, Faukes, D. Foreman, J. Foreman (Kelf, 88), Anderson, Goreham, Maddison (Whitting, 75), Hyde, Hipperson. Subs not used: Colk, Clarke, Boggis. Booked: J. Foreman, Faukes. Goal: None.

Ref: L. Betts. Att: 237