PREVIEW: Loughborough Students (N)

‍By Will Phillips

When: Tuesday 5th May (19:45 KO)

Where: Holmes Park, Dog and Gun Lane, LE8 6FA

What3Words: ///defeat.third.drop

Quorn travel south of Leicester for the final challenge in what has been one of the most incredible seasons in the club’s history, as Ryan Beswick’s Reds have a chance to put an exclamation point on a momentous year with some silverware.

Quorn’s Form:

The Methodists narrowly missed out on a playoff spot to end their first season at this level, taking just a point from their final four matches in what was a tricky end to a long campaign.‍ ‍

Going into this last game of the season, Quorn must look back on one of the most successful in it’s history. Equalling the club’s record run in the FA Cup, making it all the way to the third qualifying round, along with an eighth place finish in the table, The Reds have much to be proud of already this season.‍ ‍

On top of that, The Methodists have made their first trip to the County Cup final in over a decade. A first round bye was followed by a 2-1 win at home to Aylestone Park in the quarter-final. Another home draw saw a comfortable 3-0 win over Barwell as the Reds romped to the final. ‍

The Opposition:

Loughborough Students had a rough start to the season, looking as though they were headed back to step five for much of the season. A much-needed uptick in form has helped the Scholars rise to seventeenth in the table, comfortably avoiding the bottom four with nine points to spare. Much of that reversal in form coincided with the return of forward Gafar Abari (who is cup-tied for the final) after his spell with the Reds.

Abari’s two goals in a 3-0 win away to Carlton Town opened the door for Anstey Nomads to win the NPL Midlands after what had looked like an insurmountable lead for the Millers (thanks for that Gafar!). The Students come into this match having won six of the past seven games, losing only to Racing Club Warwick in that spell, stretching back to the middle of March.

Head-to-head:

This will be the 20th meeting of the two side over the past 12 years. The Reds hold the edge over that spell, winning eleven, losing five and drawing three. The Students, however, have held a massive recent edge over Quorn winning five of the past seven meeting, though the Reds did complete a league double over the Scholars last season as we won the NPL Midlands division. The most recent meeting was a 1-0 win at the University Stadium for The Methodists in April 2025, as Mason Frizelle’s header was the difference. The last time the two sides met in the County Cup, Loughborough upset the odds, hammering the Reds 3-0 at Farley Way in last seasons semi-final.

One-to-watch:

Hussein Issa played a starring role in that semi-final encounter, scoring the opening goal and tormenting the Reds as the Scholars ran rampant in a devastating display. Issa has made 41 appearances this season, scoring eight times for the Students.

Travel:

Leaving Quorn on the A6, join the A46 west at the island before Birstall. Remain on the A46, merging onto the southbound M1. Exit at junction 21 and head towards Fosse Park, getting in the right hand lane and heading towards Narborough. Turn left at Miller & Carter and head towards Whetstone. Go over the railway bridge and continue to the next island. Take the fourth exit onto the A426 Blaby Bypass heading south. Continue over the next island and take the third exit onto Wychwood Road. At the next island take the third exit onto Dog & Gun Lane, the ground will be just ahead on your right.

Tickets:

Tickets can be purchased on the gate, or in advance through the County FA website. There is a £1.00 discount for advance purchases. On the gate: Adults £10.00, Concessions £6.00 (6 to 17 year olds & 60+). Children five and under enter free & do not require tickets.