REPORT: Quorn 2-2 Hinckley AFC
By Dan Sheward
Quorn were held to a draw by Hinckley AFC on Thursday night, as the Reds hosted them for their third pre-season game as Ryan Beswick prepares his squad for step three.
Quorn came into the game on the back of a well fought 1-1 draw against National League Tamworth two nights prior. The Stotto Stadium held an attendance of 120 people on Thursday with Ryan Beswick starting his first game in the pre-season campaign.
A scrappy start:
The game started fairly scrappily with both sides attempting to get on the front foot early on. Quorn earned the first chance after a lovely ball from Beswick out to Cieron Keane resulted in a free kick in a dangerous position. A decent effort from Beswick saw the ball go just wide of the right post, good signs from the Reds as the game progressed.
However, the visitors responded fairly quickly, following a good attack from the opposition, Hinckley captain Zaki Evans fired an effort from range just inches over the Quorn crossbar.
Applying solid pressure, Deen Master managed to force a good chance after nicking the ball from a Hinckley defender. A blocked shot led to another corner for the Reds, unfortunately the home team were unable to capitalise as it was cleared away.
With what was a fairly equal but scrappy game, one shining light was Quorn’s number seven on the right wing, Oscar Marshall. The 18-year-old was electric in the first half, beating his man and putting some inviting balls in the box on multiple occasions.
Finally, the breakthrough came for the Reds as a cross from a free kick on the right-hand side saw Mason Frizelle rattle the crossbar with a great header. The ball fell out to Adi Yussuf, whose effort was turned in by Frizelle. Quorn had a chance to double their lead after an effort from Trialist C was cleared off the line, resulting in a corner.
Quorn’s lead was fairly short lived as Bryan Kohyrelon wriggled his way through the Quorn defence on the right hand side, setting the ball to Jared Bradshaw who’s shot manged to creep under Tom Allsopp. Things went from bad to worse as, on the stroke of half time, Hinckley were awarded a penalty for a push in the back during a corner routine. Bradshaw stepped up and earned himself a brace, placing the ball calmly in the bottom left-hand corner.
Half time: 2-1 Hinckley.
Uphill climb in the second half:
Seven subs were made at half time as Quorn had a big shuffle around going in to the second period. The Reds made a positive start to the second half as another trialist came close with a low driven shot which was turned away on to the outside of the post from a fantastic save from Keelan Fallows.
The Reds did well to maintain pressure as the fresh legs managed to fight for an equaliser and make it very difficult for the visitors. Marshall did a great job of continuing his electric first half display in to the second. After some great pressure from Quorn, a mistake from Fallows resulted in the Reds winning the ball in the opposition box. Oscar, as cool as you like, managed to place the ball in the empty net with a fantastic finish from the right-hand side of the box through a few defending bodies.
During the second half Quorn were excellent at winning the ball in the opposing half as they maintained a great press, frustrating the opposition who couldn’t seem to create as much in the second half. With one final chance, Marshall found himself on the counterattack as he chased down a nice flick on. Unfortunately, the ball went just over the bar as the game approached it’s end.
Finishing 2-2 Ryan Beswick will definitely be pleased with the way his squad fought back into the game. A great performance from Oscar Marshall showed some great signs for things to come next season as the squad continue to prepare for life in step three.