REPORT: Quorn 4-1 Shepshed Dynamo
By Kurt Barnes
Quorn won a local derby Boxing Day game against Shepshed Dynamo 4-1 to extend the unbeaten run to 23 matches. Ryan Beswick capped off a tremendous performance with two goals of his own in front of a big crowd at the Stotto Stadium.
Shepshed had come out and started the first few minutes in a positive manner surging forward on the attack but finding themselves offside. Quorn had their first opportunity on six minutes when Luca Alonzi received the ball from Jack Samples, crossed in, which was turned out for a corner.
The resulting corner was headed away but not far enough from the visitors and just a minute later Beswick’s attempted shot on goal went well wide. Quorn won a free kick around six minutes later and Beswick caused the visitors keeper Daniel Wallis to get down low and save a fantastic attempted low driven shot. Dynamo had the ball in the back of the net just a minute later but luckily for the Reds, it was ruled offside as the Assistant raised his flag long before it went in.
A few minutes later, Quorn had another free kick which was hit straight at the wall. Cain Noble was in for his first chance of the game on 21 minutes but was unlucky to not get any closer to goal after a really good move from the team. Shepshed had a couple of chances over the next ten minutes. The most notable coming on the 29th minute when an attempted header from the visitors was put over.
Quorn were in moments later when Noble hit the post after Beswick won the ball back in midfield which was the start of a really good move. Just one minute passed when the Reds won a corner that resulted in the first goal of the game. The Reds felt they should have had a penalty as the ball appeared to hit Luke Cox on the arm, but the disappointment didn’t last long.
The ball was whipped in by Zak Goodson and Beswick’s low drive found the corner. Quorn nearly doubled their lead on the 40th minute when Cain put in a teasing cross which found Alonzi in the box but Wallis made himself big to block the effort. The Reds did find their second goal just before half time when a good cross was put in for Mason Frizelle to fire in a bullet header in stoppage time.
Shepshed began the second half how they started the first, full of fight and determination. Quorn however got the first chance on 49 minutes. It was a great counter move which Silvio Bello had been a big part of but was snuffed out on the edge of the box. The Reds’ third goal, in the 55th minute, killed the game.
It was another free kick, with Beswick shooting again, Wallis looked to have made a routine save but the ball somehow squeezed under his body. Six minutes later it was 4-0 to the hosts. Beswick, who had played phenomenally, put a cross in and Jasper Tetlow got a touch at the near post. Substitute Oscar Marshall had a chance to make it five but saw his header on goal go just wide.
The last ten minutes saw Shepshed convert a penalty, as Jesse Friend picked himself up after going to ground in the box to perfectly place the spot kick into the corner. It would prove to be scant consolation for the visitors. Quorn haven’t conceded from open play in three matches, and though Dynamo pushed for a second goal with a late opportunity, the Reds saw out the match to stretch their lead at the top of the table to 16 points.
A stiff test awaits Quorn as they travel to visit bitter rivals Anstey Nomads on Monday evening, under the lights at Cropston Road.