PREVIEW: Long Eaton United (H)
Where:
The Stotto Stadium, Farley Way, Quorn LE12 8RB
When:
Saturday 4th of January 2025 (3:00pm KO)
2025 gets underway with a visit from Long Eaton United, one of only three teams we didn’t beat first time out this season. The Stotto Stadium was Fortress Farley Way in 2024, with just one defeat in the entire year, when Spalding United scored two late goals to snatch a win on their way to the title.
Quorn’s Form:
The Reds are firmly back to winning ways, on a four match win streak and five in the past six matches. The year ended with a very late winner at Anstey Nomads as Silvio Bello’s last gasp header provided a 3-2 win at Cropston Road. That win came off the back of a 4-1 Boxing Day victory at home to Shepshed Dynamo and away wins at Sutton Coldfield Town (2-0) and Coventry Sphinx (5-0). Ryan Beswick’s side have struggled at home, in comparison to their unbelievable away form, where they have won twelve in a row. At The Stotto Stadium Quorn have won eight and drawn three. The only away game in the league that the Reds didn’t win was away to Long Eaton.
Long Eaton United’s Form:
The Blues are unbeaten in five, but have only won two of those matches, a 5-1 victory away to Grantham Town and a 4-2 triumph at home to Wellingborough Town. That two game winning streak was curtailed on New Year's Day when visiting Hinckley LR scored a last minute equaliser. Other recent results include a 1-1 draw away to Lye Town and a 2-2 draw at home to Sporting Khalsa. Their most recent defeat was a 2-1 midweek loss at home to Loughborough Students on the 10th of December. Overall, away from home, the Blues have won five, drawn one and lost five, scoring 23 and conceding 21.
One to Watch:
James Taylor has appeared in every match this season for the Blues, scoring 10 in 28, and with 11 goals in 20 appearances James Shaw is also a goalscoring threat, but the dangerman is a familiar one. Evan Garnett has contributed 18 goals in 24 appearances this season, following on from an incredible campaign for Loughborough Dynamo last season where he notched 25 goals. Garnett has scored six in the past three matches.
Last Time:
Our first away game of the season saw a trip to Grange Park on am early August Tuesday evening. The Reds looked by far the better side, and were unlucky not to take the lead with two shots cleared off the line in the first half. Ben Allsop, deputising between the posts for the suspended Lewis King, had the game of his life, repeatedly denying Quorn with a stellar display in goal. Andrew Wright opened the scoring for the hosts in the 30th minute with the Blues’ first shot on target, a superb move down the right allowed Wright too much time on the edge of the box and he perfectly picked his spot.
Allsop continued to frustrate the Reds as wave after wave of attacks were thwarted with Quorn throwing everything at their hosts. The breakthrough finally came in the 90th minute, with an equaliser the least Quorn deserved. Paddy Webb arrived late in the box to power a header back across goal and into the corner as Zak Goodson hung up an inviting cross.
Quorn knew that they were by far the better side and pushed for a winner in stoppage time, thinking they had one when Bello poked the ball in three minutes later, only to see the Assistant’s flag raised for an offside in the build-up. It was a frustrating evening for the Reds, but they’ll be relieved to have taken the point in a match they might have won comfortably on another day.
Tickets:
Adults £10.00, Concessions £8.00, U16s £2.00, Under 14s Free