REPORT | Quorn 1-1 Anstey Nomads

Quorn continued their unbeaten run by coming from behind to take a point against promotion chasing Anstey. Courtney Grantham’s second half goal cancelled out Luis Rose’s first half opener as the Reds laid siege to the visitor’s goal towards the end, but couldn’t find a winner.

The hosts almost opened the scoring in the 8th minute as Paddy Webb broke down the left and squared the ball across the area. Jake Laban, making his Nomads debut in goal, appeared to hesitate as the ball flew across the area to where Courey Grantham was making his run, but the striker just couldn’t quite reach to make contact.

Anstey would open the scoring, in the 10th minute, as Jamie Hood lost his footing and Rose was able to pick his spot from the edge of the box. Charlie Marzano almost drew Quorn level in the 19th minute, picking up the ball on halfway and driving forward. No one closed the full back down and he was able to progress to the edge of the box where he unleashed a powerful drive, that stung the palms of Laban, but that he was able to corral.

Neither side was willing to give an inch in a fiercely contested local rivalry, but some of Anstey’s challenges were attracting the attention of the Referee, all four of the Nomads starting defence found themselves in the note book, joined by midfielder Corey Armeni.

Rose almost added a second that might have killed the game for the visitors, but his shot on the turn hit the outside of the post. Devon Kelly-Evans slid an inch perfect pass through to Webb on the half hour mark, but the forward’s shot was well saved by Laban, who came out early to narrow the angle.

A relatively even first half came to a close, but with the wind at their backs in the second 45, Quorn took control of the game. Darien Wauchope was lucky to escape an early bath, when he kicked the ball away early in the second half, as was Anstey’s other full back, Brad Wilson when he committed a foul on the edge of the box in the 53rd minute.

Kelly-Evans put the free kick in to the near post where Grantham got enough of a touch to turn the ball towards goal. A scramble ensued and Anstey couldn’t prevent the ball from crossing the line as Reece Fyfe was on hand to make sure.

The Reds were in total control at this point and Fyfe’s ball in to the box in the 65th minute was worthy of a winning shot. Webb met the ball on the volley but his effort flew narrowly wide in horrible conditions. Grantham had the next effort but Laban watched his long range effort drop wide of the post.

Fyfe thought that he had done enough to earn a penalty towards the end of the game when he was brought down by Laban, but the officials were unmoved. Despite Quorn flinging men forward and creating plenty of chances at the death, they were unable to find a winning goal as the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Next up for the Reds is a trip to face Sporting Khalsa on Saturday afternoon.