REPORT: Real Bedford 1-1 Quorn
Zak Goodson scored his 11th goal of the season to help earn Quorn a point, and snap a three game losing streak, away to third placed Real Bedford. The hosts, on a nine match unbeaten run, took a eighth minute lead through Ben Stevens before the Reds settled into the match and equalised 11 minutes later.
It was an emphatic start for the hosts as Real consistently got forward in numbers and applied constant pressure to the Quorn goal. Bedford’s first shot on target found the bottom corner as Stevens left Adam Harrison helpless between the sticks for the Methodists.
Real continued to dominate the match until a breakaway from Quorn handed the Reds their first sight of goal. Simeon Cobourne countered with his trademark pace, rounding Craig King, though the Bedford ‘keeper made it a tight enough angle that a drag back to Goodson seemed the best option. Quorn’s top-scorer hit the target, but saw his effort cleared off the line.
Quorn didn’t have to wait long for their breakthrough though as Goodson quickly found himself in an even better position, stroking into the bottom corner from close range in the 19th minute.
Harrison was called upon in the 27th minute, making a miraculous stop from a downward header. Diving backwards, the Quorn shot-stopper managed to claw the ball away before it crossed the whole of the line, denying Bedford a second. The sides traded blows, with the hosts having the lion’s share of the chances, but the Reds looking dangerous on the counter-attack.
Ryan Beswick, controlling things from the dugout, rather than his usual midfield role, looked to ramp up the pressure in the second half, with his side pushing for a win. Cobourne came closest to a second half goal, hitting the post after meeting a superb delivery from a Goodson free kick.
After his impressive showing earlier in the week at home to Harborough Town, Harrison pulled out more heroics in the second half, keeping the scores level as Bedford took control of the final 10 minutes, looking to continue their remarkable run of results at their Meadow Lane home. Neither side could break the deadlock in the second half of an entertaining contest between two well-matched sides.
Quorn now head to Bromsgrove Sporting for another stiff test on the road, as the Rouslers look to make it seven games unbeaten at the Victoria Ground (Tuesday at 19:45).