REPORT: Quorn 3-4 Spalding United
By Dan Sheward
The Reds hosted top of the table Spalding United on Saturday, in what turned out to be a seven-goal thriller with a dramatic conclusion. With the reverse fixture ending 1–1 earlier in the season, and Quorn looking to respond after a heavy defeat last time out, the hosts were immediately tested.
Spalding showed early intent, winning the ball straight from kick-off and almost opening the scoring inside the first minute, but Yusifu Ceesay was unable to guide his effort inside the post at the back stick.
A nervy opening followed for Quorn, with a series of loose passes allowing Spalding to build early momentum.
Adam Harrison was called into action to make the first save of the afternoon, palming away a dangerous effort, while Ryan Beswick saw a promising free kick deflected behind for a corner.
Quorn gradually found some rhythm, with Finn O’Boyle providing a bright spark in the final third. After Beswick fired narrowly over from a free kick following a foul on Goodson, the hosts began to gain a grip on the game and display control.
O’Boyle was rewarded midway through the half as he danced through several challenges before being brought down in the penalty area. Beswick stepped up and confidently converted to give Quorn a 1–0 lead.
Spalding thought they had responded quickly when Bart Cybulski tapped home from close range, but celebrations were cut short as the assistant referee raised his flag for offside.
The visitors continued to threaten, with the same forward heading just over before striking the post with another header moments later, the ball eventually being cleared off the line.
Quorn almost doubled their advantage before the break, creating a flurry of chances, one also being cleared off the line.
At half-time, the hosts held a deserved lead, having grown into the game and dealt well with sustained pressure.
The second half began poorly for Quorn as Spalding found an equaliser within five minutes, the goal going to Ceesay who didn’t repeat his mistake from the first half.
However, the response was immediate. Jacob Fenton capitalised on hesitation from the Spalding centre-back, winning possession and coolly finishing one-on-one with the goalkeeper to restore the lead on his home debut,
Spalding applied relentless pressure, thereafter, forcing Quorn to defend deep. An injured Ryan Beswick was eventually replaced by Dennis Digie, but the hosts struck again on the counter. Once more it was O’Boyle at the heart of the move, delivering a superb ball across the face of goal for Fenton to tap home and make it 3–1 and to earn himself a brace.
The visitors refused to give in and pulled a goal back late on to set up a tense finale. Entering stoppage time, Spalding completed the comeback as Sani Mani got his second goal within 5 minutes and poked home a scrappy equaliser to make it 3–3.
With the pressure all on the home side, Spalding went and completed an extraordinary turnaround in the final moments as Jack Roberts showed composure inside the area to fire home a decisive late winner, subjecting Quorn to a heart-breaking 4–3 defeat and securing all three points for the visitors with virtually the final kick of the game.