REPORT: Quorn 0-3 Loughborough Students

By Kurt Barnes

Quorn were comfortably beaten against a well organised Loughborough Students side who were looking to make the final for the second year in a row. Loughborough were one nil up at half time and with some excellent defending in the second half were also able to add two more goals for a deserved victory.

The game started off evenly despite Quorn making six changes from the six-goal rout of Bedworth United just a few days earlier. Loughborough were the first team to test either keeper with Tom Allsopp being called into action, making a smart save. Quorn had to wait a further eight minutes to see their first shot of the game, coming through Jordan Clarke, but it only drew an easy save from Luke Skinner in the Loughborough goal. The Students got their first goal of the night in the 30th minute when Hussein Issa’s low driven shot found the back of the net. The Reds nearly equalised when Zak Goodson, in open space, had his powerful shot saved by Skinner.

The Students continued to have the upper hand in the second half, forcing an early save from Allsopp, but scoring from the resulting corner as Nat Salsby punished Quorn for failing to clear the set-piece. Goodson offered hope for Quorn when his effort, just after the hour mark was again superbly stopped by Skinner, who was earning his cleansheet. Despite a better second half performance going forward, some committed defending from the Scholars kept the Reds at bay. It was soon three nil, and effectively game over, when Marcus Gilpin fired past Allsopp to send Loughborough roaring into the final.

Quorn have a rare weekend off on Saturday, as the withdrawal of Walsall Wood leaves them without a fixture. The Reds will be assured of a top five finish though is Darlaston Town fail to beat second placed Corby Town. Ryan Beswick’s side return to action on Tuesday when they travel to AFC Rushden & Diamonds in a rearranged fixture.