REPORT: Enfield Town 5-1 Quorn

A heavy defeat for Quorn in the FA Cup was overshadowed by a scary injury to goalkeeper Tom Allsopp as the match was brought to a premature end in the 82nd minute.

Quorn had started the match as the dominant force, pulling their hosts from pillar to post with waves of attacks that produced a string of gilt-edged chances. Enfield goalkeeper Rhys Forster was called into action on numerous occasions, making a string of remarkable save to keep out the Reds dynamic forward line. There was also a tremendous defensive header to clear off the line as the Towners’ goal lived a charmed life.

Enfield Town hit Quorn with a sucker punch in the 32nd as Lamar Reynolds’ spectacular volley found the top corner. The Reds responded and had a couple of chances to equalise before the break, but couldn’t find a way past the indominable Forster. At 1-0 it still felt as though Beswick’s side were in control, but Town won the ball on halfway, deep into first half stoppage time and knocked the wind out of the visitors as Tosh Gallimore found the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

The Reds then had to throw caution to the wind in the second half, desperately chasing a goal to get themselves back into the match, but Enfield Town’s captain, the superb Sam Youngs delivered the knockout blow in the 55th minute with another superb strike. A fourth followed just three minutes later with Quorn’s defenders in disbelief that Reynolds wasn’t adjudged to be offside as he went through on Allsopp and completed his brace.

Marvellous Onabirekhanlen finally got the Reds on the scoresheet with fifteen minutes to play, but it was too little, too late for the Methodists. Tommy Wood struck a fifth for Town, but in the preceding scramble Dennis Digie collided with Allsopp, who himself had made a string of excellent stops throughout the match, catching the ‘keeper in the head. It was immediately clear from the response of the surrounding players that something was seriously wrong.

Both team physios arrived on the scene, together with the Enfield Town Club Doctor, attending to the stricken Allsopp, who remained prone on the pitch for an extended period as the stadium fell deathly silent. After approximately ten minutes, the decision was made to stretcher Allsopp off the pitch, as the Town supporters behind the goal chanted the keeper’s name.

Referee Ben McDonald consulted the Football Association, who asked if the game could be continued. Understandably, Quorn’s players were in no mental state to continue and the decision was reached to abandon the match. The Reds contacted the FA’s Competition department on Monday morning and expressed their desire for the result to stand, confirming the decision in writing to the FA in time for them to amend the regions of the fourth qualifying round draw, allowing Enfield Town to be placed in the southern section.

Whilst football has been overshadowed for Quorn’s players, coaching staff and supporters, there is no stop to the fixtures. The Reds host last seasons title rivals Corby Town in the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Trophy on Saturday afternoon, with an earlier kick off time of 13:30. Season tickets aren’t valid for cup competitions, so it’s an all-pay fixture with tickets priced at £12 for adults, £9 for concessions, £3 for under 16s and free for under 14s.