REPORT: Banbury United 3-2 Quorn
By Dan Sheward
Quorn fell to a painful late defeat at the Spencer Stadium as Banbury United struck in stoppage time to steal all three points.
The afternoon began with a notable change between the posts as Quorn introduced new goalkeeper Adam Harrison, following the departure of Tom Allsopp. Quorn sat fourth in the league and looking to bounce back from the previous weekends 2–0 home defeat to Kettering Town. Banbury, meanwhile, arrived just one place above the relegation zone but proved anything but straightforward opposition.
Quorn made the perfect start. Relentless pressing from Simeon Cobourne and Cain Noble forced an early turnover, allowing Noble to wriggle inside the box and slot a composed finish into the bottom-left corner to give Quorn a 1–0 lead.
But the hosts responded impressively, maintaining extended spells of possession as Quorn struggled to settle. Their pressure told midway through the half when the Banbury skipper, Yaw Nantwi-Ofosu, having made the initial mistake that led to Quorn’s opener, made amends. A recycled ball from a corner saw the first effort crash off the bar before the captain turned in the rebound to level the score at 1–1.
The equaliser shifted momentum decisively. Quorn found themselves on the back foot for long spells as Banbury grew in confidence. Their second goal came from a half-cleared punch, falling kindly to Alex Prosser, whose strike from the edge of the box crept under Harrison to put the hosts 2–1 up.
Banbury continued to threaten, forcing a smart save in a one-on-one and seeing an effort cleared off the line by Deen Master. Quorn, however, weathered the storm and found a moment of brilliance to pull level.
Against the run of play, Quorn’s captain Reece Fyfe stepped up with a thunderous strike from distance, arrowing the ball into the top-left corner to make it 2–2 . The goal breathed life into the Reds, who finished the half strongly and carried that energy into the break.
The second period lacked rhythm, with both sides struggling to create clear chances. Banbury’s early opportunity was blasted over the stand, while long-range efforts from Master and a dangerous Banbury free kick that struck the left post kept the tension high.
Manager Ryan Beswick adjusted his side with changes including Finn O’Boyle, Billy Kee, Dennis Digie, and Marvellous Onabirekhanlen, as Quorn pushed for a late winner. Both teams exchanged half-chances, with Adam Harrison producing some important stops to keep the scores level.
With four minutes added on, the match looked destined for a draw. But in the dying seconds, Banbury broke forward on the counter after a spell of Quorn possession. A sharp cut inside and a powerful finish left the Reds’ goalkeeper with no chance, sealing a dramatic 3–2 win for the hosts and leaving Quorn empty-handed.
A frustrating result for Quorn, who started superbly but were punished for a disjointed opening half-hour and a late lapse. Beswick’s men will now look to regroup and rediscover consistency as they take on Harborough Town in a mid-week clash this Tuesday.