REPORT: Quorn 1-2 Leiston

By James Kendrick

Quorn fell to their first home defeat since January courtesy of a Ronnie Blois winner with the last kick of the match. With Quorn looking for a win to boost their play-off hopes, they pushed men forward and got caught on the break.

Their opponents, Leiston, took the lead in the first half before Quorn battled back to equalise, but late heartbreak ensued in the last minute. Leiston managed to weather a lively start from Quorn who should have gone ahead through Simeon Cobourne but he dragged a shot wide from close range.

But just after the half hour mark, Joao Soares Rangel, on his return from international duty, picked the ball up on the right-hand side, cut inside on his left foot and found the corner of the net.

With Quorn needing a win to keep themselves in touch with the play offs, the onus was on them to come out in the second half and attack. And for most of the half, they did just that and as the half wore on, it felt like a Quorn goal was coming.

With 16 minutes to play, the goal did come as substitute Jack Duffy was in the right place at the right time to turn the ball home and make it 1-1. Just minutes later Quorn defender Luke Cox hit the bar from a corner and minutes from time Zak Goodson was denied by a fantastic diving stop from the head of a Leiston defender.

With the game entering added time and Quorn knowing anything less than a win wasn’t enough, they committed more and more players forward to try and score a late goal.

This had led them to being exposed two or three times at the back and when Leiston broke in the 95th minute they made it count. Ronnie Blois bore down on goal and slotted the ball past Adam Harrison to win the game for his side and dent Quorn’s play-off hopes.

The Reds now need to hope for help elsewhere during the week and must win at home to Needham Market in the final home game of the season on Saturday afternoon.