REPORT: Quorn 0-1 Harborough Town
By Dan Sheward
Quorn fell to a narrow 1–0 defeat on Tuesday night at the Stotto Stadium, against league leaders Harborough Town, but delivered a performance containing resilience and defensive determination. Despite losing their previous two matches, the Reds showed character and organisation throughout, pushing the table-toppers all the way.
Ryan Beswick made changes for the midweek fixture, with forward Billy Kee entering the starting line-up along with Mason Frizelle. Harborough came out with intent, looking every bit the league’s top side. Inside the opening minutes, a header at the back post appeared destined for the net, but Adam Harrison reacted superbly to claw the ball off the line to deny an early opener.
Not long after, David Kamara broke through and attempted to nod the ball past the onrushing Harrison, but the keeper charged out bravely and blocked the effort with a strong hand. Harborough then appealed loudly for a penalty when Mason Frizelle tangled with the same player in the box, but the referee waved away the protests.
Despite the visitors dominating, Quorn’s defensive structure held firm. Silvio Bello picked up a yellow card for a late challenge, but Ryan Beswick’s side continued to frustrate their opponents.
Harrison was again called into action, tipping away a strike from the edge of the box and later producing two more strong saves before the break with the first from a close-range header following a long throw, and then from an effort by an unmarked Kamara after a whipped cross from the right.
At the other end, Quorn carved out half-chances. Finn O’Boyle dragged a shot wide from a Beswick free-kick, and the skipper himself forced the Harborough keeper into a save from distance. It was a superbly disciplined half from Quorn, with Harrison being called into action on multiple occasions. Despite Harborough dominating, Quorn limited them to half-chances holding a strong defensive shape.
Quorn began brightly after the restart, with Goodson beating his man and drilling a dangerous ball across the box that was cleared at the last moment.
However, Cain Noble was forced off due to injury early in the second half and replaced by Simeon Cobourne. Harborough maintained control, and after a thundering strike from Dempsey Arlott-John cannoned off the post, the visitors capitalised on the second phase. A cross from the right found skipper Connor Kennedy, who placed a composed finish beyond Harrison to make it 1–0.
The game remained scrappy, with Harborough’s physicality and game management on full display, particularly through the away centre halves Liam Dolman and Alex Morris, who made it an extremely difficult night for Quorn’s attackers.
Beswick introduced fresh legs with Deen Master and Dennis Digie, and the Methodists gradually settled again. Silvio Bello defended well to block another dangerous effort from Arlott-John before making way himself.
Harborough made further changes to see out the game, while the referee added seven minutes of stoppage time. Quorn pushed forward with urgency but found the visitors’ defence stubborn and unforgiving, offering little space to work in the final third. The chance for Quorn never really came with Harborough remaining defensively impenetrable.
Their best moment came late on when a long-range strike from Digie took a deflection and spun narrowly wide of the left post. It was agonisingly close to a dramatic equaliser for the Reds.
Quorn battled valiantly but the league leaders just had too much with the single second-half goal proving to be the difference. Despite the loss, there were strong defensive performances across the pitch, keeping Harborough to just one goal. The Reds will take heart from the resilience shown and look to translate that determination into points as they aim to get back on track this weekend against Real Bedford away from home.