REPORT: Quorn 0-1 Barwell

The Reds lost a league match for the first time since January, failing to score for the first time since last August Bank Holiday, when they drew 0-0 with Anstey Nomads. Prince Mancinelli scored the only goal of the match in the 53rd minute as Quorn looked a shadow of the side that brushed Sudbury aside so easily on Saturday.

With the quick turnaround between matches, Ryan Beswick rang the changes, including dropping himself to the bench. There were also first starts of the season for Simeon Cobourne, Joe Lyne, Cain Noble and Jasper Tetlow. Tom Allsopp had his quietest day of the season, making a save in the fifth minute and picking the ball out of his net in the 53rd, with little to do in-between.

Noble had Quorn’s first chance in the eighth minute, but fired wide of the mark. Cobourne had an effort in the fifteenth minute, but his effort saw a comfortable save for Finn Osborn in the Barwell goal.

Cobourne won a penalty in the 37th minute as Osborn brought him down in the box. With Beswick and Zak Goodson on the bench, the spot-kick was left to Captain Reece Fyfe, but his effort was saved by Osborn, who got down well to his right. 0-0 felt like the right scoreline at the break as both sides offered little in the final third.

The difference came shortly after the break, as Mancinelli was afforded too much time on the edge of the box, and was allowed to strike his second goal of the season. Deen Master, playing against his former side, forced a good save from Osborn as a double change on the hour mark breathed some life into the Reds.

Quorn were creating plenty of chances as the game reached the final 15 minutes. Kee and Master both shot over and Osborn made a couple of decent saves, most notably a miraculous stop from a close range Kee header. Mason Frizelle was deployed upfront for the final few minutes, but the equaliser never looked likely on a disappointing afternoon for the Reds in front of a good crowd of 553.

After the match Player/Manager Ryan Beswick noted that “we weren’t great, we set up different to try and combat what they’re good at, but with the heat and Saturday to Monday games it’s hard to combat for the lads so we changed it and it didn’t really pay off.”

“I’ve just said to the lads, that if you don’t take your chances, in step four we probably still win that game, but at step three, if you miss that many chances in games you’re going to lose as we’re not going to keep a clean sheet every week. It’s ruthless at step three.”

There’s no respite for the Reds as they host Sherwood Colliery in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round on Saturday afternoon (3pm KO).