REPORT: Quorn 2-2 Corby Town (3-5 on Pens)

By Dan Sheward

Quorn’s FA Trophy campaign came to an agonising end with a penalty shootout defeat to Corby Town, despite a spirited performance that featured two notable additions to the squad. Young goalkeeper Jake Donohue made his debut after joining on a one-month loan from Leicester City, while fans also welcomed the return of Zhani Burgess, who started the game on the bench.

The tie began in a cagey fashion, with both sides battling to gain control. Corby threatened first with a back-post header from a corner and continued to apply pressure, forcing debutant goalkeeper Jake Donohue into an excellent save low to his right. The young keeper looked assured throughout, also reacting well to parry a dangerous free kick before the rebound was sent just over by Ben Challinor.

The Reds worked hard to settle into the game, but frustration grew as the final pass in the attacking third often broke down. However, momentum began to shift midway through the half. Ryan Beswick went agonisingly close with a free kick that rattled the crossbar, before a neat passage of play involving Finn O’Boyle and Cain Noble finally unlocked the Corby defence. Noble showed great composure to stretch and poke the ball past the keeper, giving Quorn a 1–0 lead.

Towards the break, Quorn looked increasingly dangerous on the counter, with Noble again testing the visiting goalkeeper, Jake Laban. At the other end, centre-back Jasper Tellow had an impressive first half for his team, composed on the ball and winning almost everything that came his way. The Reds would have been pleased to lead going in at half time, however it was a scrappy game which invited a difficult second half.

The second half began in disappointing fashion for Quorn, as Corby hit back almost immediately on the counter. A simple through ball found their number nine Tyrone Lewthwaite, who cut inside and squeezed his finish beneath Jake Donohue to level the score at 1–1. Moments later, the visitors came close to turning the game around when a header from a corner flashed narrowly by the post.

Quorn responded with chances of their own, Luke Cox steering wide from a Beswick free kick, before Simeon Cobourne went close with a full stretch effort that drifted just past the far post. As the half wore on, the game was heating up and becoming a lot more of a battle with the Reds knocking on the door, but they were dealt a setback when Corby’s number seven Ruben Marshall headed home at the back post from a dangerous free kick whipped in by Harrison Jones, who had a terrific game for the away side, to put the visitors 2–1 up with ten minutes remaining.

Showing character, Quorn hit back quickly. Silvio Bello, who had worked tirelessly down the flank all match, delivered a superb cross for substitute Billy Kee to tap in from close range, making it 2–2 with time running out.

The hosts almost snatched it in stoppage time when Cain Noble broke through on goal, but under pressure from his marker, his effort rolled agonisingly wide. With the scores level, the tie was settled by penalties. In a tense shootout, Beswick, Mason Frizelle, and Bello all converted, but Noble’s spot-kick was saved. Corby held their nerve to score all five of theirs, edging the contest 5–3 on penalties to progress in the FA trophy.