REPORT | Corby Town 2-3 Quorn
The Reds won on the road for the first time this season, as Tyrell Shannon-Lewis snatched all three points, deep in to stoppage time, with a sublime strike, worthy of winning any match. Ant Carney gave Quorn the lead twice, only to see the hosts claw the Methodists back as Jordan O’Brien added a brace of his own for Corby.
Corby, the league’s top-scoring side, started quickly, dominating early possession as Quorn struggled to get out of their own half. As the half went on the Reds began to make some headway, with forays in to the hosts penalty area becoming far more regular. With Shannon-Lewis, Courey Grantham and Carney employing a high press, the three forced an early error.
A backpass to goalkeeper Ben Whitting left the former Quorn shot-stopper with very little time to clear. Carney charged his attempted clearance down, beat everyone to the loose ball and tucked it in to the empty net, handing the Reds a 21st minute lead, much against the run of play. Corby continued to apply pressure, keeping the ball around Quorn’s box, but failing to press Charlie Woods in to serious action.
Toby Hilliard appeared to break through on the hour mark, but his touch was heavy and Woods was able to collect. As the Steelmen pressed for an equaliser before the break, gaps began to appear at the back, Shannon-Lewis almost exploited one, but he fired his effort in to the side-netting. Carney also had a chance after a goalmouth scramble, but placed his effort too close to Whitting.
Woods was called in to serious action early in the second half, making three good saves in the first 90 seconds after the break, as Corby came flying out of the traps after the break. They didn’t have to wait long for the equaliser, Silvio Bello adjudged to have committed a foul in the area with what looked like a fairly standard shoulder barge.
O’Brien stepped up and, although Woods went the right way, smashed the penalty in to the bottom left corner, levelling the match in the 52nd minute. The hosts were in the ascendancy, but Quorn’s backline were standing firm, with Jordan Gough, Pat Zito and Kyle Bryant shutting down the numerous, dangerous looking, surges forward.
Charlie Marzano lashed in an effort in the 63rd minute, but his shot was off target, Grantham managed to get a touch but could only nudge it wide of the post. Quorn reestablished their lead shortly afterwards, when Shannon-Lewis played in Carney on the edge of the box. Making just his second start of the season, Carney shot low to Whitting’s right, but what looked like a routine save, was merely diverted by the keeper in to his own net.
Quorn were managing the game nicely, but when the board went up to display eight additional minutes, Steel Park, and the raucous home support, received the boost they needed. O’Brien scored with a superb shot from outside the area, dipping and curling in to the net in the 93rd minute. Lesser teams might have lost their heads and capitulated, but Richard Lavery’s side are made of sterner stuff.
The Reds piled forward looking for a winner, and they found it with virtually the last kick of the match, Shannon-Lewis seeing O’Brien’s strike, and one-upping it. Cutting in to the box from the right, the powerful striker pulled the ball back on to his left foot and smashed an absolute rocket across Whitting. Always full of energy, and after a gruelling 97 minutes, Shannon-Lewis ran the length of the pitch to celebrate with Woods in front of the fanatical home support.
It was certainly a memorable evening for the travelling Quorn fans, and a great time to find some form away from Farley Way, as the Reds began a stretch of five away games in six matches. That run continues with a trip to face Lye Town on Saturday afternoon.