REPORT: Halesowen Town 4–1 Quorn
By Dan Sheward
Quorn were forced to make changes for the trip to Halesowen Town, with Ryan Beswick suspended and returning defender Sam Warburton going straight into the starting eleven. With both sides battling for a play-off position, this was always set to be a crucial contest.
The hosts made a fast start and carved out an early opening when Jason Cowley was denied by Adam Harrison, who pushed the effort wide low to his left. Quorn responded well, coming close through Cain Noble after a dangerous delivery from Simeon Cobourne, but his shot was bravely blocked inside the box.
Halesowen continued to threaten and should have taken the lead when slick hold-up play from their striker released Fin Holmes, who laid the ball off for Mckauley Manning, only for the shot to fly narrowly over the bar. Despite being under pressure, Quorn showed attacking intent and Zak Goodson tested the home goalkeeper with a well-struck effort that was saved comfortably.
The breakthrough came in scrappy fashion as Halesowen poked home from close range by Ryan Wollacott. Harrison was called into action again just before the break, denying the opposing striker once more to keep the score at 1–0 heading into half-time.
The hosts almost doubled their lead when an unmarked header from Jim Kellermann drifted over the bar. However, they soon found their second, as Quorn were caught in possession in midfield and Holmes drifted inside from the left before smashing an unstoppable effort past Harrison.
Adam Harrison continued to keep Quorn in the contest with a magnificent fingertip save to deny a header from close range, but at the break it was Halesowen who held a deserved 2–0 lead in difficult, rain-soaked conditions.
Quorn made a double change at half-time, with Rhys Kelly replacing Sam Warburton and Gus Sanches coming on for Jacob Fenton, and the visitors showed a much more positive approach. They pushed higher up the pitch and began to dominate possession in the attacking third.
The home side’s captain Josh Smile was shown a yellow card for a heavy challenge on Reece Fyfe, and moments later Rhys Kelly saw a deflected effort loop over the bar. Quorn’s pressure paid off on the hour mark when Sanches was brought down in the box. Despite protests from the home crowd, the referee pointed to the spot. Goodson saw his initial penalty saved but reacted quickest to head in the rebound and pull a goal back.
Rob Evans was booked for dissent shortly after, while the hosts were handed a let-off when Harrison misjudged a ball but the chance went begging. That escape proved short-lived, as Halesowen restored their two-goal advantage in the 70th minute when Jack Hickman met a cross from the left to make it 3–1.
Deen Master was then replaced by Gafar Abari as Quorn looked to regain momentum. Harrison produced another excellent save, tipping a free-kick from Manning over the bar, while Noble was withdrawn and replaced by Drew Lowe.
The home side almost added a fourth when Holmes struck the post, with the ball cleared off the line. Despite a much-improved second-half display, Quorn struggled to find a cutting edge in the final third.
The fourth goal arrived late on as Fin Holmes found space on the right wing, shifted the ball out of his feet and fired home to seal the result. Cobourne was booked late on for what appeared to be a harsh decision for simulation, and four minutes of added time were played out without further incident.
Jack Hicklin was awarded Man of the Match as Halesowen secured a 4–1 victory, leaving Quorn to reflect on a difficult evening but a spirited second-half showing that ultimately came too late to turn the game around.