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Quorn FC
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Unibond
Match reports:
Quorn finished their 1st Unibond Northern Premier League campaign with a resounding 4 nil scoreline against Gresley Rovers at Sutton Park yesterday .
Kidsgrove Athletic 2-2 Quorn FC (19/04/08)
Quorn travelled to Kidsgrove minus the services of Chris Goodman and Keeper Nicky Scaife , with Luke Plummer also unavailable . Russell Peel returned in midfield whilst Michael Payne bravely returned between the sticks despite still nursing his troublesome shoulder injury . All thoughts of Michael having a quiet afternoon soon disappeared when Kidsgrove began strongly and confusion in the Quorn rearguard allowing Ryan Baker a shot on goal that the Quorn custodian did well to block , moments later Liam Shotton struck the crossbar and Payne again came to Quorn's rescue when he clawed away another effort by Baker . Quorn finally mounted an attack of note when Joe Shaw found Tom Byrne who cleverly fed Paul White , whose fine cross caused concern for the home defence before scrambling the ball clear . A nice turn by White gave him a chance to cross but Liam Hearn's header lacked the pace to trouble home Keeper James Coates who gathered cleanly . Baker was finded plenty of space for Kidsgrove and Rory Squire made a fine block tackle to keep the scoreline blank . Quorn appeared to have weathered the early storm and the lively Byrne and White ( twice ) put over crosses that caused panic in the home defence , Adam Wigley found time to come forward and his cross nearly crept in at the far post . At the other end Kidsgrove took the lead on 31 minutes with a freak goal , Philip Hadland 's wind assisted cross from the right looped over and nestled in the net with Payne stranded. This began a spell of Kidsgrove pressure not helped by some poor defensive work by Quorn , Craig Lovatt going close before Squire clearing another dangerous attack .Just when it seemed Quorn would go to the break just 1 behind another defensive blunder allowed Top goal scorer Michael Lennon another chance which he gratefully accepted giving Payne no chance from close range . No doubt a few choice words were spoken during the interval and the 2nd half began with Quorn taking the game up the slope to the home side . Justin Jenkins was upended just outside the box but White's free kick was off target . A Kidsgrove attack was broken up with afine interception by Byrne who knocked a fine ball up the line for White who allowed the ball to run before racing clear , as he advanced into the box he laid a fine ball into the path of Peel who struck home from 15 yards past a stranded Coates . A spot of head tennis in the Quorn box finally ended with a shot by Baker that just cleared the bar allthough Payne looked to have it covered . The home team continued to try to restore their 2 goal lead but Quorn's defence looked a bit more solid than it did in the first half but a free kick just outside the box was deflected and Payne did very well to save with 2 home forwards closing in for the kill . A hotly disputed corner caused problems when Baker reacted first at the near post to turn it across the face of goal but Shaw cleared the ball to safety before Baker again lost his marker and forced Payne into making another good stop . A fine run by Wigley relieved the pressure and after playing a 1-2 with Peel the Quorn Skipper picked out White who took too much time with a golden opportunity and was closed down . Quorn applied real pressure for the first time in the match and equalised with 10 minutes remaining when Wigley made a fine interception before releasing Liam Hearn whose pace took him to the byline before crossing low to the far post for Byrne to finish off smartly. Hearn's pace continued to cause problems and in the closing stages set up Jenkin's who went close before Hearn himself nearly gave Quorn an unlikely victory . Kidsgrove then nearly snatched victory them selves when Shaw attempted clearance, off the toes of an attacker , struck his own crossbar before eventually being scrambled to safety. Not Quorn's best performance this season but a grateful point to take them to fifty for the season . Men of the match Ryan Baker for Kidsgrove and Michael Payne and Tom Byrne for Quorn.
Quorn 6-2 Goole AFC (16/04/08)
A feast of goals was served up in last nights game at Sutton park with Goole fc the visitors . James Peryer was given a chance in midfield in place of Russell Peel in an otherwise unchanged line-up . Quorn were quickly under pressure when a bad back pass let in Duncan Bray but his well struck shot was touched onto a post by Nicky Scaife before Joe Shaw completed the clearance . Quorn replied when Peryer found Paul White who had more time than he thought and his hasty shot sailed over . The visitors continued to pile forward and Rory Squire headed away under pressure but straight to an unmarked Brad Hill but fortunately for Quorn his shot on the run was just wide of the mark. Liam Hearn made room for a shot but couldnt keep his effort down . James McDaid walked through the Quorn midfield unchallenged and Squire stopped him just outside the box but conceded a free kick in doing so . Against the run of play Quorn took the lead when a Chris Goodman free kick found Hearn who outpaced his marker and crossed for White to apply the finishing touch from close range . Quorn conceded another free kick outside the box and Ian McLean launched a bullet strike towards the top corner but Scaife brilliantly arched backwards and tipped over . The visitors got a deserved equaliser albeit from a poor decision by the referee who awarded a spot kick when Squire perfectly timed his tackle , Danny Buttle fired home and Goole continued pressing . A Goodman corner was headed back across the goal by Squire but just cleared the bar . Buttle out wide cut in but fired wide and then Quorn made a mess in midfield and Bray latched on to the loose ball and forced Scaife to make another fine stop . A great cross field ball by White picked out Hearn in space and he destroyed the defender for pace and fired home past the advancing Craig Parry to put quorn back in front again against the run of play on the half hour but four minutes later Buttle , in acres of space on the right burst thro and gave Bray the easiest of tasks for the equaliser . A good link up between Hearn and White gave Goodman a shooting opportunity but his effort was wild . at the other end Andrew Jackson burst thro unchallenged again but his effort rebounded off the post to safety with Scaife beaten . Just before the break Hearn fed Justin Jenkins but he shot just over the bar . Quorn started the 2nd half better and Jenkins and White combined to free Hearn but a covering tackle conceded a corner . A deep cross from the right was headed back by Tom Byrne straight to White but he snatched his shot and was off target . Scaife under pressure dropped a cross but Hill shot over when well placed . Peryer found Byrne who set up Jenkins but again the chance was wasted . A White free kick found the head of Jenkins but Parry was equal to it and saved well , Quorn looked to be on top and Hearn went on another run before having his effort cleared off the line , shortly after Byrne , White and Hearn combined to set up Jenkins but a last ditch tackle from Chris Jenkinson prevented quorn going back in front . Minutes later quorn did take the lead when another dubious penalty was awarded - this time to Quorn and although Parry guessed right to make a good save Hearn followed up his own effort to tap home . Quorn piled on the pressure and Hearn nearly completed his hat trick when he strode past his marker , rounded the keeper but hit the post . Byrne got the fourth , out of the blue , when he cut in from the right and fired in a low shot that surprised Parry who allowed the ball to go in at the near post . Goole had time to hit the bar courtesy of a defection before Jenkins neatly fired home from 15 yards for the 5th . Scaife pulled off another excellent save but Bray was adjudged offside anyway , the quorn keeper then made an error but atoned when saving at the feet of Bray . In the dying moments quorn added a sixth when Hearn burst thro again to cross for White to round off a good win . White almost got his third when Luke Plummer picked out Goodman who released White but his effort was just the wrong side of the post . Jenkins had probably his best game for the club and White and Hearn played well but for three outstanding saves at critical times i give my M O T M to Nicky Scaife
Quorn FC 1-2 Cammell Laird (13/04/08)
Cammell laird played their 2nd game in two days and went away with a six point haul that all but ensures their promotion to the Unibond Premier Division with 4 points required from 3 games to guarantee elevation to step three Quorn put up a good showing but in the end it was the Lairds who wanted it more despite being leg weary at the end . Sam Carter and Joe Shaw replaced Richard Burford and Nick Goold , with Ryan North joining the list of injury victims . Quorn started the brighter and Chris Goodman fed Adam Wigley who found Liam Hearn who cleverly set up a chance foe Paul White but his tame effort was gathered by Paul Whitfield in the visitors goal .Goodman then found Tom Byrne in space but he miss-controlled the ball and had to settle for the first of 3 successive corners which were dealt with comfortably by the Lairds defence . Quorn gave away a needless free-kick and a deep ball caught the normally reliable Wigley in 2 minds and his effort to retrieve the situation resulted in him bringing down Eddie Jebb just inside the box but Mark Reed's spot kick was superbly saved by Nicky Scaife going full length to his right , much to the relief of the Quorn skipper . The lively Byrne and Liam Hearn were causing a few problems at the other end and the former headed Goodmans free kick into the path of White whose rasping volley just cleared the bar. Jebb was a constant threat for the Lairds and Scaife was alert as the visiting no7 broke free on the right but the Quorn keeper was first to the ball and cleared for a throw. Shaw played a good ball to Goodman who found Russell Peel in space but he delayed his shot and Derek Ward for the visitors got back to conceded a corner. Goodman's kick was half cleared to Wigley and his shot from the edge of the box was clawed away from the top corner by Whitfield , shortly after Quorn took adeserved lead when from another corner by White Justin Jenkins ghosted in to power his header into the roof of the net .The visitors responded when after good work by Jebb , Ward's deep cross was met by Ian Cooke but the big no 9 couldn't keep his header down to trouble Scaife . Carter looked to be fouled when making a clearance and this allowed Reed to find Jebb but his first time effort was just past the post .3 mins before the break the visitors equalised when after poor marking on quorn's right Reed was allowed to get to the by-line and his cross was partially saved by Scaife but he could only knock it into the path of Cooke and he despatched with ease . After the break the visitors stepped up the pace and Quorn were finding it difficult to deal with the long searching balls that the visitors kept pumping forward , but it was a missed offside decision that gave Reed a chance but as he broke Scaife stood tall and made the block and Shaw and Peel between them completed the clearance. Cooke then laid off to Joe Gibilain but his well struck shot was comfortably held by Scaife. Quorn replied through Hearn , whose pace took him past one defender but Carl Clampett got back to to make the clearance . After 55 mins the visitors pressure paid off when the Quorn defence backed off and Jebb crossed for Reed to atone for his penalty miss by making no mistake from close range . The visitors nearly increased their lead when Scaife missed a cross from the right but Shaw underpressure managed to put the ball behind for a fruitless corner . Shaw then joined the attack and his deep cross found Hearn but he dragged his shot wide with Whitfield struggling to get there .At the other end a snapshot by Chris Adamson was well held by Scaife and Substitute Alex Hay caused problems for Quorn with his introduction and Scaife was alert to tip over his goalbound effort from the right. Slack marking allowed another substitute , Chris Melia to free Reed whose deep cross was just too high for Hay and Shaw cleared the danger . The visitors looked the most likely to add to their tally and again the pace of Hay took him past 2 defenders before Rory Squire 's excellent tackle conceded the corner . Luke Plummer on for Quorn put over adeep cross that gave Paul White a chance but despite having 2 bites at the cherry Whitfield saved easily . A long ball down the left was reached first by Scaife but Reed robbed him before shooting from an acute angle that narrowly missed the far post . The visitors were deserved winners and my man of the match goes to Eddie Jebb whose tireless running all afternoon was the feature of a polished performance from the visitors .
Spalding United 3-3 Quorn FC (05/04/08)
Quorn came back from Lincolnshire with just a point from an entertaining game that they could and should have won . With Brett Darby looking likely to be out for the rest of the season , Sean Bowles , Adam Brown and Liam Turner likewise and Joe Shaw and Luke Plummer still away , Quorn had Adam Wigley back but suffered a blow before kick off when Ryan North failed a fitness test , Nick Goold replaced him and Richard Burford came in for James Peryer with Andrew Simpson making way for Wigley . The Tulips were first to show when a deep cross from the left was met by Matt Murphy but his knockdown was put over the bar by the lively Ben Carrick . Liam Hearn showed his pace and his cross was plucked of the toes of Justin Jenkins by a diving James Doughty . A freekick on the left taken by Andy Stanhope was met by Danny George but his header went narrowly wide . Quorn replied when a long ball by Russell Peel picked out Jenkins who lobbed the advancing Doughty but it lacked the pace to reach the goal and Adam Buckley got back to clear .Spalding took the lead on 12 mins when a long ball was allowed to bounce and Murphy's challenge set up a near post strike by Danny Hargreaves that appeared to go under Nicky Scaife's body . A quick free kick by Wigley and a neat turn by Goold set up Hearn who cut inside but his goalbound effort was blocked , at the other end Scaife had to be alert to deal with a header by Stanhope , but moments later he was at fault when he failed to reach a cross and George had a simple task of finishing to put the Tulips 2up . This stung Quorn into action and 3 mins later they pulled 1 back when Tom Byrne played a fine ball to Hearn whose low cross was met by Jenkins who slotted home past Doughty . 5 mins later Quorn were level when Peel found Hearn who outpaced his marker and crossed for Chris Goodman who strode into the box and was upended giving the Referee no choice but to award a spot kick and although Doughty guessed right he couldnt prevent Hearn's kick finding the corner of the net . Quorn should have took the lead when Peel released Byrne who put Hearn through but with 3 players in the box waiting for the cross Hearn chose to shoot and Doughty pulled of a good save at the expense of a corner . A free kick by Scaife found Byrne in space and his whipped in cross was met by Paul White but again Doughty was equal to it .At the other end a deep cross by Buckley almost caught out Scaife but he got back to tip over and soon after he was called into action again as Hargeaves was allowed to get in a shot that the young keeper got his body behind to rescue Quorn . A quick break by Quorn saw Hearn 1 on 1 with Doughty and it was the turn of the home keeper to save his team making a fine save low down to deny Hearn his 2nd .The end to end football continued after the break and poor marking in the Quorn defence gave Garrick an opportunity but he failed to find the target and Scaife cleared upfield . Byrne and Hearn exchanged passes before Byrne's strike was pushed round the post by Doughty , from the resulting corner Doughty missed his catch and Wigley's header was hacked off the line at the 2nd attempt by Hargreaves . Jenkins should have put Quorn ahead when he beat the offside trap, rounded the keeper but then snatched his shot which went high , wide and not very handsome but 2 mins later in an identical situation he made no mistake , shooting earl;y to give Doughty no chance to put Quorn 3-2 ahead . The lead lasted barely 3 mins when from a another set piece move Scaife came but his poor punch was knocked back over his head to clear the covering defender and find the roof of the net by Luke Forbes to put Spalding back on level terms. The home side then had a spell in the ascendancy and Scaife atoned for his error by keeping out goalbound efforts by the Tulips skipper George and kept out another goalbound effort from substitute Stuart Goosey . Byrne then had a great run deep into the home half before releasing Jenkins who struck his shot well but it went just past the far post with Doughty struggling . Hearn set up Byrne and Doughty had to make another fine save to keep the scores level . For the neutral it would have been an entertaining game to watch with end to end incidents all through the match but Quorn's errors both in defence and attack cost the visitors the chance for all three points . Doughty had a fine game in goal but my man of the match for an all round inspirational display goes to the Tulips skipper Danny George .
Quorn FC 2-6 Carlton Town (29/03/08)
What a difference a week makes ! Quorn , forced to make half a dozen changes to the the team that took the points in the previous encounter came unstuck in spectacular fashion against a more determined Carlton side . With Sean Bowles sidelined with an ankle injury Quorn gave a debut to Nicky Scaife , with Tom Byrne also in the starting line -up following his move from Gantham just before the deadline on Thurs. James Peryer and Andrew Simpson were called into the side with Joe Shaw , Brett Darby and Adam Wigley all unavailable . The first 15 mins saw Quorn in the ascendancy and Byrne could have opened the scoring in the 2nd minute following a mistake by the visiting defence but needed too much time and the chance was lost . On 12mins a long kick by Scaife was swept out to Liam Hearn and his cross was superbly headed by Paul White giving Alessandro Barcherini no chance , to open the scoring . Justin Jenkins then fed Hearn who burst through to put Quorn 2 up after 15 mins following a poor throw in by the visitors . It took 4 mins for Carlton to pull one back when after a poor ball in midfield Quorn lost possesion and Fabian Smith neatly fed Darryl Thomas who gave Scaife no chance . Worse was to come when another error in midfield was exposed as Marquin Smith found Mark Smith who crossed superbly for the unmarked Thomas to knock past Scaife . Quorn looked well out of sorts as a string of poor passes and schoolboy errors resulted in further goals first from Phillip Bignall and when Thomas completed his hat trick just before the break the home side looked shell shocked and it was a welcome relief when the referee blew his whistle for half time . A long free kick by Scaife had Barcherini in a spot of bother but he held well after a last second adjustment . With the wind behind them Quorn looked to be pushiing the visitors on the back foot but just before the hour mark a shocking decision by the referee , awarding a penalty when Bignall did a 5 point 9 , put the game out of Quorns reach as to add insult to injury Bignall got up to fire home the spot kick . As in the previous game whenever Hearn got the ball he caused concern for the visitors and it took a brilliant save by Barcherini to prevent him pulling a goal back . Carlton nearly increased their lead when Marquin Smith was allowed to run straight through from his own half before bringing a good save from Scaife . Another long kick by Scaife caused concern for Barcherini but he just readjusted in time to make a smart catch. With 20 mins to go with Quorn attacking a poor ball was picked up by Dean Gent who rode several half hearted challenges before firing past Scaife to complete the scoring . Hearn continued to be Quorn 's best threat and he set up Jenkins for a strike on goal but his effort was well wide . Quorn finished the game with ten men when Adam Brown was caught by a heavy challenge and had to leave the field with 10 mins to go . Darryl Thomas's three goals made him a contender for M O T M but my vote goes to Marquin Smith who ran the show .
Shepshed Dynamo 2-1 Quorn FC (24/03/08)
Quorn put up a woeful performance against local rivals shepshed and got what they deserved . Brett Darby was unavailable and Adam Brown started in an otherwise unchanged side from Fridays win over Carlton Town . Quorn were off their game all afternoon and pass after pass went astray and Shepshed took full advantage and pumped balls forward for their front men to chase . The blustery conditions didn't make for pretty football and the home side's tactics paid dividends and could have added to their total .After the initial 10 minutes of football sparring , Quorn were the first to go close when a long free kick by Sean Bowles reached Justin Jenkins who headed down for Brown but he snatched at the shot and scuffed it wide .Shepshed took the lead when an innocuous cross from the right was fumbled by Bowles and Sam Saunders pounced to knock the ball into an unguarded net . The home side continued to put the Quorn rearguard under pressure and from a free kick that Quorn failed to clear Saunders headed over .Another free kick for Shepshed wasn't dealt with properly and after a scramble the ball struck a post and rebounded to the arms of Bowles . Quorn made a mess of a free kick just inside the home half but eventually Chris Goodman struck a long ball that reached Liam Hearn who beat the defender and put over a low cross that was scrambled away for a corner . Paul White took it and Rory Squire headed home under pressure from Saunders .The second half was as disappointing by Quorn as the first . Russell Peel against his former club had a shot from distance that lacked the pace or direction to cause Gary Hateley any problem and he caught with ease . At last Quorn put a flowing move together which ended when Goodman's cross was cleared by Matt Millns . A foul by clarke went unnoticed and this set up Lheureux Menga but Bowles clawed his strike to safety . Brown went close for Quorn when he won a challenge cut in and struck his shot well but Hateley watched it all the way as it passed the far upright . Another ball pumped forward by the home side was chased by Menga , Bowles got there first but made a mess of it and Menga had an easy task of knocking the ball home to restore the home teams lead. Quorn should have equalised when Squire found Jenkins who fed White but Hateley advanced and white screwed his shot wide from close range . Hearn tried from distance but again Hately saved comfortably . White and Jenkins combined to set up a strike on goal by Ryan North but his shot lacked direction . Clarke wasted a great opportunity near the end but Bowles read it well and saved at his feet . Squire and Wigley had good games for Quorn but my man of the match goes to Shepshed's Matthew Millns .
Quorn 4-2 Carlton Town (21/03/08)
Quorn gave a debut to Russell Peel at left back in place of the unavailable Luke Plummer and Brett Darby returned for Nick Goold , with Justin Jenkins replacing Liam Turner at no 9 .
Quorn 0-2 Colwyn Bay (15/03/08)
In the 2nd of back to back matches against the in -form Colwyn Bay , Quorn again suffered defeat mainly due to the clinical finishing of the Bay's leading scorer Neil Black . The visitors were forced to make a change with Lee Spike coming in for the departed Martin Crowder but welcomed back captain James Olsen with Adam Wade dropping to the bench . Quorn too made changes with Joe Shaw coming in for the unavailable Sam Carter , Adam Wigley replacing Richard Burford ,Liam Hearn back in for Justin Jenkins and Nick Goold made his first start after the influential Brett Darby dropped out through illness . Quorn started slowly and Black broke down the left but his cross was cleared upfield and a good move was halted when Liam Turner lost control of the ball . Goold started quite brightly with a few smart crosses and combining well with Luke Plummer , whipped over a deep cross that caused Keeper Jamie Speare to backpeddle and just tip over the bar .From the resulting corner a clearance fell to Chris Goodman just outside the box and his goalbound first time shot was deflected away to safety . Poor marking allowed Black to break free but just as he was about to pull the trigger Plummer seeing the danger got across to make a last ditch tackle and Sean Bowles completed the clearance. Plummer then switched to attack and his cross was struck well first time by Paul White but unfortunately straight at Speare who took comfortably .Quorn shaded the first half but fell behind just before the break when a long free kick was allowed to reach Black just outside the box who unchallenged took a touch to control and fired past Bowles into the far corner . Quorn responded when Shaw played a 1-2 with White cut inside and his cross cum shot was headed goalwards but Turner a only for Speare to claw to safety past the post . After the break the visitors stepped up a gear and apart from a first time effort by Turner , from Hearn's lay back , which sailed wide , it was all Colwyn . Black from an offside position missed by the assistant , nearly increased the lead but Wigley half blocked his shot but with the ball heading to the net Bowles readjusted and clawed the ball away for a corner . Just like the first encounter the ever dangerous Black was a constant threat and turned his marker inside before shooting just wide of the target . After 52 mins the Bay deservedly went 2 nil up when again Black received a ball on the corner of quorns box shimmied , turned his marker , left him for dead and coolly slotted the ball into the far corner again giving Bolwes no chance . A quality goal from a quality player - His 27th of the season . Quorn didn't give up the fight and Hearn brought out a good save from Speare . Black again broke free but was denied a chance of his hat-trick when Bowles got there first to clear upfield . A blatant foul throw nearly gave the visitors a third but Robbie Williams's first time effort from outside the box fizzed just past the upright . Lee Spike stuck agood effort from distance but Bowles was in perfect position to make a comfortable save . A good move involving substitutes James Peryer and Justin Jenkins left White in the clear but Chris Taylor was alert to the danger and made a timely intervention . Steve Wynn and Sub. John Lawless worked an opening with the latter crossing for Black to head just wide . Quorn began to have their best spell of the half and Jenkins fed Peryer who smashed his shot first time and was unlucky to see his effort strike the crossbar with Speare desperately trying to reach it . Hearn and Shaw linked up on the right and the former looked to have worked his way into a shooting position but chose to lay the ball back but Steve Rowland read the danger and cleared under pressure . I give the man of the match to Neil Black , as last week the difference between the two sides.
Colwyn Bay 1-0 Quorn FC (08/03/08)
Quorn made the long trip to Colwyn Bay without the unavailable Adam Wigley and Liam Hearn , manager Gavin O'Toole also resting Joe Shaw and Ryan North . The game was played on a very heavy pitch not helped by a downpour that began as we arrived at Colwyn Bay . Quorn welcomed back Brett Darby , Liam Turner was given his chance up front and new signing Sean Bowles came in for the unfortunate Michael Payne . The home side were soon on the attack and Adam Wade crossed for leading scorer Neil Black whose header struck the crossbar , Quorn responded with Luke Plummer finding Justin Jenkins on the left who cut in and released Paul White whose first time effort just cleared the far post .Wade and Black combined again for the later to bring out a fine save from Bowles but Anthony Wrights follow up effort was ruled out for offside .Black broke down the right for the home side but his low cross was brilliantly cut out by Bowles with Wright closing in . Quorn replied with an excellent move begun by Darby who found Adam Brown , his crossfield ball found White who picked his spot and struck a great shot that was well saved at full stretch by keeper Jamie Speare .A spell of Quorn pressure followed and Darby was thwarted by a last ditch tackle by Paul Willliams . Jenkins rose well to head down to Turner but his effort on the turn was deflected behind . Another quorn attack was broken down and a long clearance caught out the visitors when the ever dangerous Black forced a fine save from Bowles only to see the rebound clear the post with Carter desperately trying to cover .Poor marking on quorns left allowed Martin Crowder to go clear and he brought out the best from Bowles before Plummer made a timely intervention to prevent quorn going behind just before the break. Quorn were first to shoe in the 2nd half when Darby beat his man and crossed , the ball appearing to strike a defenders arm but the Referee was having none of it , as the ball was cleared upfield 2 quorn defenders appeared to get in each others way and allowed Black to break free unchallenged and the striker strode on and knocked it past the advancing Bowles into the far corner to give the home side a deserved lead . This inspired Colwyn and but for another fine save by Bowles , this time from Wright after more slack defending , they would have doubled their lead . Jenkins should have done better when Turner gave him a shooting opportunity but his snap shot went wide . A long clearance by Bowles was misjudged by the home defence to leave White with a clear shot on goal but his effort lacked any pace to cause Speare any problem. A spell of pressure by Colwyn was relieved by a good move involving Darby and Chris Goodman was ended when Jenkins shot wide again when in a good position . Back came Colwyn and that man Black again easily beat his marker only to be thwarted again by Bowles as he broke clean through .Substitute Joe Shaw had a good run and cross that was hastily cleared by Steve Wynn as Nick Goold , on for Turner , closed in looking to grab the equaliser .Darby went close as he forced a good save from Speare after good work by skipper Goodman and Shaw won a corner on the right which Darby crossed and found the head of Jenkins but he again failed to find the target . A miss hit cross by Joe Fowler caused concern but Bowles reacted well and made a comfortable save at the foot of the post .The home side saw out the last few minutes to seal the three points . man of the match , Neil Black for Colwyn matched by Sean Bowles on his debut for Quorn
Quorn FC 0-3 Sheffield FC (01/03/08)
Quorn welcomed the worlds oldest club for their first visit to Sutton Park which also saw the return of Daniel Haystead in goal but at the other end of the field . Quorn were without the influential Adam Wigley and Brett Darby and the visitors were without two players from their midweek defeat of Gresley Rovers due to suspensions . The home side should have took the lead after two minutes when Adam Brown sent in a great cross from the left and Justin Jenkins failed to get his head on it as Haystead was rooted to his line fearing the worst but the curling ball hit the base of the upright and away to safety . Luke Plummer sent in another great cross but Haystead was equal to it and caught superbly under pressure from Jenkins .At the other end Vill Powell too easily beat his marker and put in a low cross that was half cleared to Steven Hawes but his header from distance sailed wide .Paul White went on a run through the midfield and played a ball to brown but his attempted chip lacked height and Haystead gathered comfortably , his long kick up field was latched onto by Powell but the big no 9s effort was well held by Michael Payne . Plummer found Brown down the left and with a repeat of his cross in the first minute looked to have found the head of Jenkins but again with Haystead just a spectator the home no 9 failed to connect and the ball drifted wide . Quorn appeared to be adapting better to the blustery conditions and a great move involving 2 or 3 players ended when Brown ball to Chris Goodman was way too short and was intercepted to set the visitors on the attack . Powell's strong running caused the quorn defence a few problems and the same player set up the opening goal when Joe Shaw and Sam Carter appeared to get in a mix up and Powell advanced into the box and with a perfect lay back which fell to Gary Townsend whose goalbound shot was brilliantly saved by Payne only for Jamie Smith to be the first to react and slide the ball home . Payne was injured making the save but carried on . Quorn responded when Browns deep cross had to be tipped over at the last minute by Haystead for a fruitless corner . A bad mistake by Ryan North let in Townsend but his shot was just off target . Just on the half hour Payne had to leave the field and was replaced by Liam Turner with Jenkins taking over between the sticks . Another misplaced ball by North led to Jamie Smith finding Powell who advanced into the box lost control of the ball but was upended by a rash challenge from substitute keeper Jenkins , Smith converted the pen with aplomb to put the visitors 2up ten minutes before the break . The home side seemed dispirited and conceded possession far to easily in the middle of the park but the visitors were unable to turn their dominance into threats on goal .Quorn managed a spate of attacks in the final minutes first Goodman and Plummer combined to set up White but his shot lacked the power to trouble Haystead, moments later Hearn cut in from the left but again Haystead reacted to turn the ball into the side netting , in injury time Hearn brought Plummer into play but his deep cross was well held by Haystead . Quorn began the 2nd half on the offensive and again Haystead when 1 on 1 against Hearn came out on top when brilliantly saving with his legs as Hearn shot on the run .The visitors were still having the territorial advantage but failed to capitalise on a series of poor decisions by the assistant referee who allowed play to continue when the eager Sheffield forwards broke from clear offside positions .Goodman s shot from distance was watched all the way by Haystead as it sailed past the far post and the former quorn custodian again rescued his side when Goodman put Hearn in the clear only for the keeper to make another great save with his feet .Plummer fed Hearn and his low cross found Turner but his shot was blocked . A long ball out of defence had Quorn in trouble when the persistence of Matthew Roney caused panic but the substitutes shot was straight at Jenkins who held cleanly .Another good run and cross by Roney on the right caused concern but his whipped cross eluded everyone . Another error in the middle of the park by Quorn gave possession away and Roney s cross was this time despatched by Steven Hawes to seal the game for Sheffield 6 minutes from the end of normal time . More sloppy play from Quorn conceded possession and Powell went free but checked inside and shot but Jenkins held on to keep the score mildly respectable . Man of the match Goodman and Plummer both had good games for Quorn but i have to give it to Dan Haystead for a faultless display.
Quorn 2-0 Shepshed Dynamo (26/02/08)
Quorn were without the suspended Chris Goodman and Nigel Julien and also unavailable through injury Richard Burford but opponents Shepshed too had their share of players unavailable for the 2nd of three local derbies and the game began with both teams a bit edgy and the excitement of the previous encounter was slow to come to the fore .The visitors looked to be more solid at the back with Matthew Milns organising his back four and not allowing the Quorn forwards time to settle on the ball and likewise Sam Carter and Rory Squire didn't give an inch to the visiting front line . Chances were few and far between in the first half with Menga Lheauraux for the visitors and Justin Jenkins for the home side having the the clearest opportunities and both players perhaps should have done better without calling upon either keeper to make a save . Quorn began the 2nd half the stronger of the two sides and Brett Darby in particular began to probe for openings and the subdued Liam Hearn began to come into the game and broke down the right to set up a chance for Jenkins with a pull back from the by-line but he miscued his shot and Gary Hateley made a comfortable save diving to his right . Adam Brown went close for quorn before the same player was involved in the build -up that led to quorn taking the lead when Paul White controlled the ball and drilled his shot past a stranded Hateley just on the hour mark . White again went close but hit his shot into the side netting when well placed . Shepshed tried to counter but were unable to penetrate the quorn reargaurd although substitute Michael Stahlberger forced Michael Payne to make a smart save following a free kick . Quorn continued to look the most likely team to score but had to wait until the 89 minute to seal the victory but by then the visitors began to look like a beaten side and it was White again who made them pay when latching on to a great through ball that split the visiting defence and Hateley was left stranded as Quorns leading scorer comfortably despatched the ball into the corner of the net . Clarke had his best effort of the night when he controlled the ball and picked his spot to launch a stray ball out of the ground into the garden centre , what an intelligent footballer he is !! not Man of the match against his former team mates was Sam Carter .
Quorn 2-0 Kidsgrove Athletic (16/02/08)
Quorn made it 3 wins from the last four games but the latest victory against struggling Kidsgrove was anything but convincing and if the visitors had taken half their first half chances the scoreline would have been a lot different . Quorn had to thank Keeper Michael Payne , who made a string of fine saves , for keeping them in the game . Sam Carter returned at full back in place of Scott Lower and on the other flank Luke Plummer returned in place of Adam Wigley who was on wedding duty ( best man ).
Shepshed Dynamo 2-3 Quorn (12/02/08)
Quorn dominated the first half with movement skill and pace and could have doubled the half time score but Shepshed responded in the 2nd half and at one stage looked as though they would get something out of the game but it was quorn who finished the game the stronger spurning 2 or 3 good chances in the last 10 mins of the game .Quorn manager Gavin O'Toole rested a couple of the younger players and brought back in the experience of Scott Lower and Adam Wigley . From the start Quorn pressurised the home defence and created a series of chances and it was no surprise when they took he lead after keeper Michael Payne released Lower who found Paul White who was upended just outside the box , Brett Darby curled the freekick in the top corner eluding home keeper Gary Hateleys despairing dive . Justin Jenkins twice went close after good work by Liam Hearn and White but it was Ryan North who pressurised Defender Tim Wilkes to unfortunately divert past his own Keeper to put Quorn 2 up on 13 mins. Shepshed tried to respond but Richard Burford and Rory Squire held firm at the back for quorn . White should have increased the lead after a fine move involving Jenkins , Hearn and Darby but hit his shot just the wrong side of the post . 10 mins before the break Quorn did increase their advantage when Hearn superbly finished off a fine move involving White and Wigley . A spell of Shepshed pressure was interupted when a Payne clearance found White who put in a good cross but Jenkins headed wide . The half time team talk saw a revitalised home team take the game to Quorn but it was Hearn who had a couple of efforts blocked in quick succesion following a fine ball from North , the ball eventually reaching Jenkins who brought a fine save from Hateley but the strker was belatedly given offside anyway . Quorn forced a series of corners and again keeper Hateley was called upon to make a fine save from Hearn after the chance was set up by Darby . Jenkins went close for quorn again but against the run of play Clarke pulled a goal back after a defensive error let him in . This brought the best spell of the game for the home side and when substitute Lheureux Menge smashed home an unstoppable shot on 71 mins it looked like quorns first half dominence would count for nothing . Shepshed continued to look for the equaliser but it was Quorn who finished the stronger and substitute Liam Turner was guilty of missing the best of several chances in the dying moments . Man of the match - no one really shone above anyone else it was a good all round team performance.
Grantham Town 2-0 Quorn (9/02/08)
Quorns visit to 5th in the table Grantham Town brought nothing in terms of points and both goals were poor from a defensive point of view although no one could deny the quality of the finish for the 2nd goal . With Adam Brown unfit with a knee problem Paul White started wide on the left and Michael Payne made a welcome return in goal after being out with a shoulder injury for 15 months , the home team also had leading scorer Sam Wilkinson unavailable . His deputy Sam Mullarkey was soon in the action when his snapshot struck the angle of post and crossbar as a relieved Payne looked on. Quorn replied but first Justin Jenkins was caught offside when put through and then Liam Hearn suffered a similar fate but moments he beat the offside trap held off a chasing defender only for home keeper Mario Ziccardi to get the faintest of touches to divert the ball just past the far post, the resulting corner was cleared to Chris Goodman but his first time effort was always rising . A Brett Darby free kick put Paul White clear on the left but his cross went past the face of the goal and the home side scrambled the ball way . Glen Atkinson for Grantham went close as he held off one challenge but shot just wide although the Referee then decided to give a free kick for the initial challenge taking the advantage rule a tad too far . Sean Cann then put over a dangerous looking cross but the alert Payne gathered with ease .Hearn worked his way into a shooting position but couldn't keep his effort down enough to trouble Ziccardi. A good move started by Luke Plummer was carried on by Chris Goodman and Jenkins ended with Plummers cross cum shot just clearing the crossbar past a relieved Ziccardi . Goodman then had a shot blocked before a long ball found Mullarkey who appeared to initially control the ball with his hand before Plummer got back to try to knock the ball back to Payne but his attempt seemed to flat foot the keeper who could only look on as the home no 9 had the simplest of tasks to put the ball into the unguarded net on 36 mins . Quorn replied with White finding Hearn but his shot just grazed the outside of the upright .Half time approached with quorn searching for the breakthrough that never came . Quorn tried to force the pace in the 2nd half and should have had apenalty when Plummer and Hearn set up White but has he burst into the box was upended but the referee deemed no offence - strange ! Slack marking at the back then gave Rob Norris an opportunity but his effort was wide of the target . Hearn and Jenkins then combined to feed Darby wide on the right and as he cut in and released his shot keep[er Ziccardi parried the ball to safety past the onrushing Quorn forwards . Darbys cross found the head of Hearn but his header from distance was never going to trouble Ziccardi . Darby's free kick from 35 yards gave the home keeper an anxious moment as it fizzed just over but moments later the game was effectively over as Mullarkey received a pass which he controlled and took forward and with the Quorn defence backing off and inviting him to shoot , he didn't need a 2nd invitation as his strike from outside the box flew past a despairing Payne into the top corner. Substitute Adam Wigley found Hearn with a good ball and his shot on the run forced a good save from Ziccardi and from the clearance Goodmans effort just went past the post with the keeper scrambling to get there . Whites over head ball to Goodman gave him another shooting opportunity but again his shot was too high . Full marks to the home team , in particular to Mullarkey for taking their chances but this was a game that Quorn should have won . Man of the match , for Quorn the tireless Ryan North and for Grantham Terry Fleming , although the match sponsors gave it to Mullarkey and who am i to argue .
Quorn 3-2 Alsager Town (02/02/08)
Quorn entertained Alsager this afternoon on a bitter cold day and manager Gavin O'Toole was warmed by his sides first victory under his leadership and extended the unbeaten run to 4 games . The home side soon took the initiative and a good cross found Justin Jenkins who rather fortuitively layed the ball back to Liam Hearn whose blocked effort still troubled visiting keeper Matt Conkie who desperately palmed the ball over . From the resulting corner Quorn took the lead when Adam Brown , who was making his home debut , deftly headed Darbys flag kick past a seemingly unsighted Conkie.The pace of Hearn was causing concern for the Alsager back line but it was the visitors who got back on level terms when Chris Budrys tussled for a through ball with Rich Burford who was adjudged to have brought down the visiting no 9 as he entered the box Up steeped Darryl Proffitt to blast home the penalty on 19 mins .The home side took barely 4 mins to regain the lead when after good work by Brown left Hearn in the clear the young striker despatched with ease giving Conkie no chance from 8 yards . Hearn continued to rattle Alsager when firstly bringing a good save from Conkie , but moments later went closer still when his goalbound effort was diverted to safety by Karl Espley the visitors skipper .What looked like a nasty injury to Chris Goodman led to the return of Scott Lower who replaced him just before the break . The 2nd half saw the home team look to increase their lead and it was no surprise when after good work on the right saw Hearn feed his strike partner Jenkins who was upended in the box and Hearn blasted home despite Conkie's valiant effort . From another set piece Brown ghosted in again and and his glancing header was cleared off the line with the keeper beaten . Ryan North was next to go close but his shot from distance was always to high to cause Conkie problems. A deep cross by Ashley Miller caught Quorn out and Substitute Tim Sanders's magnificent strike from distance left keeper Dan Haystead with no chance to reduce the arrears and bring the visitors back in the game and they had their best spell of pressure during the game , quorn weathered the storm and finished the game with some neat interpassing football and could have added to their total . We say farewell to Dan Haystead who played his last game for the club and we wish him well as he joins his hometown club of Sheffield. Man of the match was Liam Hearn .
Sheffield FC 0-0 Quorn (26/01/08)
Warrington Town 1-1 Quorn (19/01/08)
Quorns away trip to Warrington added another point to the seasons tally but they had to come from behind again but the performance fully justified at least a share of the spoils . The home side were soon onto the attack following on from last weeks 6 goal haul at Carlton but the Quorn rearguard with Rory Squire back in for the departed Bettsy held firm . Conner Taylor went close but his first time effort was much too high to worry Dan Haystead . Luke Plummer found Justin Jenkins who fed Brett Darby but his shot on the run was deflected for a fruitless corner . Darby again tested keeper Shane McSweeney but the home keeper was equal to the task. Last weeks hero Liam Hearn easily beat his marker to set up a chance for Jenkins but his snap shot flew over when well placed .Quorn went behind following slack marking on the right and when the cross came in Tom Lamb cooley fired home to leave Haystead furious . Quorn responded when Hearn and Nigel Julien combined but the formers shot was again deflected for a corner . Hearn again left his marker but was cynically fouled but resumed after lengthy treatment . As half time approached Quorns back line was caught square and Lamb was held back by Sam Carter but kept his feet until he was in the box and the Referee gave a spot kick and booked Carter for the offence and Haystead for protesting . Lamb got up to take the spot kick himself but Haystead guessed right and made a great save diving to his left to keep quorn in the game . Jenkins had to go off at half-time and Liam Turner joined Hearn up front but it was the home side who were first to show when Karl Brown got free but his effort was wide of the mark .Julien replied for Quorn and his shot on the move was just off target , the same player then tested keeper McSweeney but he made the save look easier than it was diving low to his left . Carl Rendall and Scott Williams combined but the no 9s shot found the side netting watched by a relieved Haystead . A poor pass in midfield presented Lamb with a shooting opportunity but his lob from distance cleared the bar . Julien and Hearn set up a chance for Turner but his effort was blocked , quorn looked to be getting on top but an injury to Plummer upset the balance with Ryan North playing in an unfamiliar role at left back Hearn broke free wide right but was denied when a linesman's flag ruled Darby offside as he was running back towards his own goal , but after good play between Julien and Turner , whose great ball found Hearn and he despatched past the advancing keeper from an acute angle . A draw was probably a fair result and I give my man of the match to Nigel Julien .
Quorn 2-2 Retford Utd (12/01/08)
What a difference a week makes . after last weeks disappointing result to come from behind and share the spoils against the league leaders was a massive improvement and caretaker Manager Gavin O'Toole was delighted with his teams effort and commitment . Although Quorn were the first to go close it was the visitors who took an early lead when Michael Goddard s sublime chip from just outside the box caught Dan Haystead unawares and went in just under the bar . Quorn responded and with the new up front partnership of Justin Jenkins and Liam Hearn combining well and Brett Darby swept home after good work by the front two after 12 mins of play. The home side began to grow in confidence and Hearn chased a ball on the left and robbed a Retford defender and slipped the ball past the advancing keeper but the keeper s left hand just took the pace off the ball and allowed his defender to clear off the line . Retford soon began to look dangerous again and Michael Goddard an early substitute for the visitors had a shot just blocked for a corner , then sotting Haystead offf his line Ryan Ford from 30 odd yards out chipped a brilliant effort but Haystead somehow got back and tipped over .Darby hit a screamer that Ross Turner did well to tip over and skipper Robert Betts s last ditch tackle rescued Quorn .A great ball from Darby found Luke Plummer but his first time effort went too high . The 2nd half saw the leaders step up a gear and Haystead made a fine save from Goddard . Retfords flow was interrupted when agood move involving the front pair found Darby whose cross was struck by Plummer but keeper Turner saved at the 2nd attempt.Plummer found Jenkins and his strike was just off target , but it was the visitors who regained the lead when a goalmouth scramble following a corner led to Michael Simpkins forcing the balll home from close range . It looked as if Retford would close out the game but Adam Wigley found Jenkins but his shot was always rising and cleared the bar . Just when Retford looked to be taking all 3 points Liam Hearn capped off a fine debut with a fantastic shot the flew past keeper Turner from 25 yards to send the home team into raptures . Afew contenders for man of the match on both sides but we have to give it to Robert Betts captain fantastic who signed off with a magnificent display at the heart of the Quorn defence . Good luck and bon voyage to a fine player and he will be greatly missed by all at Quorn FC
Gresley Rovers 3-1 Quorn (06/01/08)
Quorns disappointing results of late continued at Gresley but a much improved performance particularly in the 2nd half when they were on top for long periods gives rise to a bit of optimism . A disastrous start when they were caught cold by the eager Gresley front line probably cost them at least a share of the spoils . Goals from Daniel Blair and Stefan Marshall in the first 5 mins set the basis for Gresley to chalk up their 7th successive victory and leave them handily placed in the table to make at least the playoffs and on current form can mount a challenge to the leaders . After the opening 15 mins Quorn gradually got in the game and the lively Nigel Julien tested home keeper Dave Clark on a couple of occasions and Liam Turner also brought a good save from the Gresley custodian . Gresley were still looking dangerous and Dan Haystead had to be at his best to keep out efforts from the impressive David Blenkinsop and also Blair again went close . After the break Quorn began to get their passing game together and began to create holes in the home sides defence . On 52 mins Moussa Sylla was sent clear on the right and his stepover beat his marker and as he entered the box he calmly stroked home from an acute angle . Quorn than began to dominate with quick neat football that Gresley were finding hard to contain , a great run and cross by Julien gave Turner agreat chance but his header was turned away at full stretch by Clarke , Sylla went close again for Quorn but when Chris Goodman lost his footing in the middle of the field Gresley broke against the run of play and Blenkinsop was upended as he bore down on goal and the same player got up and took the spotkick himself and despite Haysteads valliant attempt the pace of the shot took it into the corner .Undaunted Quorn continued to press and efforts by Turner and Julien and a late strike by Sylla were all well saved by the man of the match David Clarke the Gresley keeper.
Stocksbridge Park Steels 4-1 Quorn (01/01/08)
Stocksbridge avenged their defeat at Quorn 6 weeks ago with a comprehensive 4-1 victory at the Look Local Stadium . The game started lively with both sides creating chances in the early minutes , Matt Telling for the home side had a free header following a free kick but directed it past the far post when well placed to open the scoring , likewise Liam Turner blazed over following a good link up between Chris Goodman , Brett Darby and Paul White , in between Nigel Julien shot over from an acute angle after a good move involving Turner and Darby .A jinking run by Adam Brown created a good chance for Jamie Vardy but he too screwed his effort wide when he should have done better . On 15 mins a good move involving Turner and Darby again sent Julien clear on the right but his pull back was miss kicked by White and the chance was lost , this proved costly as the ball was cleared and Brown found Alvyn Riley whose effort was half cleared to Telling who rifled home from 15 yards to give the unsighted Haystead no chance . Play settled down a bit with both sides probing without creating clear cut chance but 10 mins before the break Haystead rescued Quorn with a brilliant double save to deny first Mark Ward and the follow up effort from Vardy but on 42 the same player made no mistake after Haystead was left exposed again . The 2nd half was a bit stagnent early on but it was the home side who stepped it up to increase their lead when substitute Andy Ring found himself with acres of room to slot home what was from the visitors point of view a poor goal to concede . The still not fully fit Robert Betts entered the fray along with Ryan North and this prompted a spell of Quorn pressure just after the hour that resulted in White being brought down in the box but Darby s spot kick was comfortably saved by Andrew Jefferey in the home goal . Sam Carter did find the back of the net 20 mins from time with a good shot from an acute angle following a corner but Quorns misery was complete when substitute Ben Walker was adjudged to have scored by the linesman despite Rory Squire clearly kicking the ball away before it crossed the line 10 mins from the end , just as well it had no bearing on the result as the home side fully deserved the 3 points against a Quorn team that seems to have lost its way in recent games . Man of the match Matt Telling of Stocksbridge .
Quorn 1-1 Belper Town. (26/12/07)
Todays visit of Belper town left manager Pete McGurk still looking for his first victory since taking over , but it was a case of so near yet so far as the visitors had to wait till the 91st minute to equalise Quorns early strike . It was Dan Haystead who the first keeper called into action as he palmed away Ross Hannah s snap shot from 15 yards . Nigel Julien caused problems for the Belper defence with his pace and Brett Darby in an unfamiliar strike role was also very lively and went close on a couple of occasions before Quorn nearly took the lead on 12mins minutes when a quick interchange set up Skipper Gavin O"Toole whose first time effort rattled the crossbar . The warning went unheeded as 3 mins later Darby broke up the left hand side and cut in and curled a superb shot past Adam Ogden , giving the keeper no chance . The visitors responded and when a ball in the box landed at the feet of the normally cool Hannah , he had a rush of blood and blasted over from close in . Back came Quorn and a suberp pass from O"Toole found Julien and he cut in and fired in a great shot that just cleared the crossbar . The home side were playing the better of football and the 2 nd half started in much the same vein when Darby and Julien continued to cause problems that led to Belper conceding a number of freekicks , one of which O"Toole tested Ogden who saved superbly has he flew to his right to claw away from just under the bar . Belper had aspell of pressure just on the hour and Haystead had to be at his best to keep out an header from the industrious Peter Smith , with a fine one handed save to keep the home side in front . Another fine through ball from O"Toole found the darting Julien whose good control and finish was for nothing as the assistants flag rescued Belper . Just as it looked like Quorn were threatening to increase their lead Richard Tracey the Belper no 9 had a goalbound header brilliantly turned away at full stretch by Haystead 6 mins from time and this prompted Quorn to lose abit of composure and their all round play became a bit sloppy . Along ball from Haystead though found its way to Darby who outpaced the oncoming defender and slipped the ball past the advancing Ogden only for his effort to clip the outside of the post . Just as it seemed Quorn were going to hang on for the 3 points a spell of pressure resulted in Hannah being thwarted by another great save by Haystead and as it seemed Quorn would survive , the ball came back in and substitute Sean Gummer powered his header past the despairing Haystead in the 91st minute to send the visitors into wild celebrations that resulting in the scorer being yellow carded for going over the top . Quorn were the better side for most of the game but the visitors definitely had the more clean cut chances . Man of the match a tie between Dan Haystead and Gavin O"Toole .
