REPORT: Quorn 1-1 Stourbridge
By Dan Sheward
The Reds kicked off the season in some fashion after a late winner from Finn O’Boyle saw Quorn beat Worcester City 1-0, securing all three points to start the step three campaign.
There were two changes for Quorn, seeing the weekend’s goal scorer Finn O’Boyle and debutant, Deen Master come in to the starting eleven.
First Half: On the front foot
An early effort from a Stourbridge corner forced a nice save out of Tom Allsop. It was a scrappy start to the game with both teams trying to establish their presence in the game. Deen Master started the game at left back replacing Jack Samples who picked up a knock against Worcester City.
Stourbridge started the game with more possession out of the two teams, however, neither side were having much joy in the final third.
Quorn, who initially struggled to get out of their defensive third were lucky to not be one down after Ty Barnett turned in a header past Tom Allsopp. To the Reds relief there was a foul on Luke Cox in the build-up and the goal was disallowed.
A quick response from Quorn saw a ball from the left-hand side of the pitch finding Zak Goodson. Cutting inside, he forced a nice save out of the away keeper Stan Amos. It was much more positive play from Quorn, who were starting to hit their stride.
Goodson was clearly getting under the skin of his full back as Stourbridge’s Jenson Sumnall was booked for elbowing the Quorn winger in the face after the ball went out for a throw in.
The Methodists had really stepped it up a gear after the disallowed goal and some great attacking play saw Master whip a ball in from the left, landing right on Ryan Beswick’s head, who was unlucky not to score. It had taken a stunning save from Amos to keep the score at 0-0. Quorn really grew into the half with a nice display of attacking football.
Going into the drinks break Quorn looked the better side, applying some real pressure in the first twenty minutes. After a quiet few minutes, a quick break from Quorn was halted by the away teams, Tom Solanke. The number six was shown Stourbridge’s second booking in the first half.
In the 34th minute The Reds finally found a breakthrough which was looking inevitable. A lovely, lofted pass over the defence from Beswick found the run of new signing Dennis Digie. Quorn’s number 10 had no trouble in taking the ball into his stride and slotting it in the back of the net as he found himself confronted with the keeper.
There was a scrappy end to the half as tempers flared between Stourbridge’s Ethan Freemantle and the Quorn bench. Reds Assistant Manager, Shaun Wilkes, was dismissed, with the Stourbridge striker cautioned. However, Beswick’s side headed in at half time a goal up, following a very impressive first half.
Second Half: A gutting end
There were chances at both ends to kick off the second half as the game restarted in electric fashion, however neither team could capitalise.
great double save from Amos kept chances from O’Boyle and Digie out, as well as another follow up effort from Digie that went just wide. It was once more a lovely attacking move from The Reds and very positive stuff for Beswick’s side.
The visitors were awarded a free kick following a soft tackle from Billy Kee. A good, lofted ball in from Dom Lewis found the head of a Stourbridge attacker. A good header that shot just over the bar meant the score remained 1-0 to Quorn.
Master, at left back for Quorn, was winning the ball on the left-hand side all evening for the Reds, as a very solid defensive display from the number three was really helping keep the opposition out.
The referee was made to draw a card yet again, this time for Silvio Bello. The free kick resulted in a nice ball into the box with Ruben Freeman heading the ball wide of the goal.
Quorn did not put the brakes on despite being in the lead, and a nice move down the right-hand side saw Goodson put a dangerous ball in that was hooked away at the back post. There were a few red shirts arriving and the visitors would have been thankful that the attack didn’t result in another goal.
It wasn’t a good site for Quorn as Tom Allsopp went down with not long to go in the game. Thankfully Quorn’s number one was attended to, and back on his feet quickly. It was safe to say it was a much scrappier half in the second 45 minutes. Quorn’s battling midfield of Beswick and Captain, Reece Fyfe, were putting in an incredible shift to keep Quorn in front, winning the battle in the middle of the park.
Stourbridge kept searching for a goal though, and found a loose ball in the box falling to Jenson Sumnall whose acrobatic effort was turned away by a brilliant save from Allsopp. The outstanding save kept Quorn in the lead as the game entered the final ten minutes.
Ryan Beswick saw yellow as he stuck a leg in to prevent a Stourbridge counterattack, but there was little he could do to prevent the equaliser. Sumnall managed to draw the game level, finding the back of the net from a set piece. A long throw was shot goalwards and Allsopp could only parry the effort into the path of Sumnall, with the grateful defender able to easily turn the ball in for an 88th minute leveller.
The game ended all square at 1-1. Beswick and his side will be proud of the performance they put in against strong opposition. Although disappointing to walk away with just the point when so close to all three, it’s safe to say Quorn aren’t letting step three intimidate them as they went toe-to-toe with Stourbridge who finished 9th last year. Next up, The Reds welcome Stratford Town to the Stotto Stadium on Saturday (3pm KO).