Quorn come out on top after a seven goal thriller
TOTAL MOTION MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE
QUORN 4 COVENTRY SPHINX 3 QUORN made two changes to the starting eleven, Nathan Dale and Darious Darkin both returned after missing the last game.
Quorn were looking to extend their recent run of results against a Coventry side who trounced the hosts earlier in the season at Sphinx Drive.
The visitors were close to taking an early lead, Ryan Harkin curling his effort just wide from 18 yards. Quorn replied, and Dom Brennan was only inches away from getting a touch to a fine cross from Rob Mulonga. The hosts conceded possession in a sloppy manner and Jamie Towers had a shooting chance, but it was at a comfortable height for Haydn Whitcombe to make a good save. Quorn were awarded a couple of free-kicks in dangerous positions, but the visitors defended the set pieces well.
Ryan Seal floated another free-kick in the box, but Sean Williams couldn’t direct his header on target. Coventry took the lead just after the midway point of the first half, another error when in possession, cost Quorn dear and when the ball was eventually delivered into the box Harkin forced the ball over the line. Towers put in a superb cross from the right but a superb take low down by Whitcombe ended the threat.
Quorn broke from deep, Seal picked out Mulonga with a fine ball, but the full back’s delivery beat everyone, flashing across the face of the goal. Pretty much a carbon copy just minutes after but this time visiting keeper Jack Tregartha cut out the cross with a fine save low down. Quorn were exerting pressure as the half wore on but without really troubling the Coventry defence. Seal went close twice in the same move, but some stout defending saved the day. Just before the break, Dale fired in a great effort from 25 yards but Tregartha flung himself to his right to make a superb save.
Quorn started the second period on the front foot and Williams fired wide, off balance, after rounding the keeper. The same player then fired narrowly over the bar after a fine ball from Darkin had created the chance. Quorn continued to be the better side but against the run of play, the visitors doubled their advantage.
A free-kick on the left-hand side was floated in and as Quorn defenders hesitated, Towers nipped in to knock the ball past Whitcombe.
It took Quorn just two minutes to reduce the arrears, Mulonga’s cross from the right was adjudged to have been met by a hand of a defender and Dale despatched the spot kick past Tregartha.
Six minutes later Quorn got a deserved leveller, a free kick was floated into the box and Lawrence Gorman laid the ball back perfectly for fellow centre-back Dan Brennan to fire past Tregartha with the aid of a slight deflection.
Quorn’s tails were up and should have had a penalty soon after, but the blatant push on Darkin as he broke into the box, went unpunished. Undeterred the home side continued attacking and soon after were rewarded, a defensive mix up saw Williams dart in and finish with aplomb.
Six minutes later, Quorn made it four, Isaac Cooper strong run into the box saw the defender brought down, giving the referee no option but to award another penalty, Seal stepped up and fired past Tregartha to make it 4-2 with a little over 15 minutes remaining.
Quorn continued to dominate and were attacking at will and should have added at least another two goals, but it was the visiting number 7 who showed how to finish with a late goal to make the score line closer, but it was a case of too little, too late as the home side ran out worthy winners.