REPORT: Barwell 2-2 Quorn
By Will Phillips
Barwell snatched a late equaliser through Kane Richards to take a point in an entertaining 2-2 draw. The home side had taken the lead through a Mason Frizelle own-goal, but second half strikes from Simeon Cobourne and Zak Goodson had Quorn on top before a frantic end to the match that saw honours even.
The Reds dominated early and it looked to be just a matter of time before they scored. Goodson fired a cross into the box that Finn Osborn parried away from goal. The next chance in the game came off the opposite wing, as Gafar Abari managed to get into the final third and cut the ball back towards Finn O’Boyle. With goals in three straight matches, it felt as though O’Boyle was sure to fire Quorn into a deserved lead, but the forward scuffed his effort straight at Osborn.
Osborn again denied O’Boyle after Reece Fyfe played him through on goal. Barwell managed to get a great chance, one of the best for both sides in the first half. Jevin Seaton found himself through on goal, one on one against the keeper, though Adam Harrison spread himself and was able to force the striker off course as he sliced the ball wide of goal.
The Canaries broke the deadlock with Seaton putting in a cross that Frizelle sliced into his own net. After the goal Quorn were able to stay in control of the game dominating much of the ball. A great opportunity from a corner came for the Reds as Cox was able to head the ball down from a Deen Master cross. The Ball fell to Frizelle who was unable to get a clean connection, sending it over the bar. Shortly after Master fired a wonderous curved shot at goal from just outside the box, however, the shot whistled past the far post.
Quorn’s dominance in possession continued in the second half as a free kick rebounded off the defensive wall and fell to captain Fyfe, who lifted a pinpoint ball into the box that Cobourne fired home to bring the Reds level within three minutes of the restart.
The Reds were in full flow now, showing their attacking flair and an impressive move down the left saw the ball landing at the feet of club top scorer Goodson who completed the move by making space for himself and handing his side a well-earned lead.
Goodson almost had another as his snapshot caught Osborn off-guard, but the Barwell shot-stopper recovered enough to parry away. Cobourne also had an excellent chance but sliced his effort high and wide from a good position. Barwell started to throw men forward in search of an equaliser, with Harrison forced into a couple of smart saves.
Richards made the most of a poor clearance as he fired in the equaliser from the right-hand side with four minutes of the 90 remaining. A lengthy injury break saw nine minutes of added time played, and Quorn made the most of it, creating plenty of chances as they searched for a winner.
Jasper Tetlow fired an effort off the post and Austin Samuels’ point-blank effort from denied by Osborn. Samuels also got his head to a Master cross, but his flick sailed wide, as did a Frizelle effort from a corner. The final chance fell to Goodson, but, from a tight angle, he could only find the side-netting.
Quorn will feel that they probably did enough to earn all three points, but a dogged display from Barwell means that the Reds come away from the last of four Leicestershire derbies this season with just one point to show for it, despite some solid displays across all of the matches.