UniBond League Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 9th September 2008, 7.45pm
No Complaints As Quorn Win At The Moat
No one watching this game could have argued with the result as Quorn were better in almost every department.
The first half was fairly even with very few chances for either team. The first came when Rovers' Sam Wilson put over a cross that was allowed to go right through the box and fly just a whisker wide of the far post.
A corner from the left taken by Wilson was headed wide by Lee Mellon and ten minutes later Mellon tried his luck again but this time it was a low shot that went wide.
On 35 minutes a corner taken by Paul White came out to the impressive Liam Hearne ran into the box and hit a shot from an acute angle that clattered the post. Seconds later another good shot this time from Brett Darby brought out a fine near post save from Rovers' keeper Nicky Scaife.
As the first half drew to a close a corner from the right taken by Wilson appeared to go in under the bar but the officials disagreed. Hearne finished the half with another thunderous dipping shot from 30 yards this time smashing against the bar.
The second half began with both sides cancelling each other out but it was that man Hearne who once more lit up the Moat Ground.
On 58 minutes the home defence allowed him to stride forward before unleashing another pile driver than unbelievably smashed against the face of the bar yet again.
It was just a warning though because eight minutes later Quorn hit two goals in two minutes to give Rovers a huge mountain to climb.
The first goal had a bit of luck about it. A cross from White on the left was missed by former Quorn keeper Scaife and appeared to hit the head of Darby standing just behind and without knowing much about it the ball bounced into the empty net.
However, there was no luck about the second goal, which was worth the entry fee alone.
A corner from White came out to Adam Wiggley 25 yards out who hit an unstoppable missile of a shot into the top corner that left Scaife rooted to the spot.
Manager Gary Norton made a change taking off Stewart Copnell and replacing him with Brian Woodall and it seemed to spark Rovers into action for the final twenty minutes or so.
Rovers had the chance to get back into the game when Carl Slater was put through but the advancing keeper Sean Bowles blocked his first shot and as the ball ran free Slater tried once more but again was thwarted by Bowles who blocked the shot and then gathered the ball much to the relief of the visitors.
Hearne almost added to Quorn's tally when he hit a shot on the turn but straight at Scaife.
Rovers did get a goal back in time added on. Bowles' attempted clearance was charged down by substitute Kevin Lock and coolly slotted home by the striker.
Unfortunately it was far too little far too late.
Manager's View
"It's difficult to sum tonight up because we played a game on Saturday and came away with three points where most people who watched it would say we were very fortunate to.
"We've lost a game tonight which I felt we perhaps didn't deserve to win if you look at the chances we created. If you look at individual performances, obviously outfield players, they played very, very well. The back three were superb Nathan Morris in particular and not far behind Miles Chamberlain and Dan Douglas had superb games.
"Across the midfield and the front two that started were not up to scratch really. We've not created anything tonight if I'm honest and it took a mistake to break the deadlock which was unfortunate but it happens.
"It knocked the stuffing out of us a little bit and the shape went and the second goal came shortly afterwards. They had a short corner and no one could have stopped that strike. The short corner pulled us about a bit and the ball came out to their number five and what a strike! A fantastic strike straight into the net and you find you've a mountain to climb.
"We had decent possession at times and moved the ball well but in the final third when it mattered instead of getting quality to the front two we were getting the midfield involved as well to create things but we didn't get going so you can't fault the score line.
"The ball was fizzing about in the first half which I think was the conditions. The pitch has played very, very well tonight and the ground staff have done a cracking job. But I thought it was a pretty even game first half. Liam Hearn rattled the post and the bar and could have had a hat trick as he hit the bar in the second half as well.
"I said to the players that if you stand off him and let him run at you he's going to do that to you - he's a player I admire very much. But I think their front two were the difference tonight and it was a very close game apart from that.
"Tony (Hemmings) thinks it's our best performance of the season but I have a slightly different view. I don't think creatively wise we didn't really get going tonight and we'll be looking at one or two players in particular that we want to give a little bit more to.
"Stewart (Copnell) had his chance from the start tonight but didn't quite get going. He's a quality player but he looked a little bit short of that tonight but we're not too disillusioned. We've got a huge game on Saturday that we've got to pick the lads up for.
"Ideally there are some of the players we would have liked to got ninety minutes in the reserves. Some of the lads we turned to tonight have not had too much pitch time, Brian Woodall came on and made a difference, Tom Liversage hasn't had too much pitch time. Lee Mellon's come in tonight and done all right for an hour before he clearly tired.
"We try to get the lads as fit as we can and when the opportunity arises, we had a couple of lads fail a fitness test tonight. Oliver Hancock and Robbie Banks just about scraped his to make it to the bench. We've got a bit of depth in the squad but we need people to come in and hit the ground running and make a real fist for a shirt.
"The lads are honest and they tried their hardest tonight and it's not quite been at the races. We've not played too bad tonight but we are just not quite good enough at the moment.
"We have been a little bit disappointed with Sam's (Wilson) recent form but tonight was a very good performance in a more advanced role. He seems a little bit more comfortable going forward and it was something Anthony (Hemmings) pointed out and we were very happy with him today and to be fair the switch at the end was just to add a little bit of energy with Jordi Gough going on and he did well for the little bit of time he was on the pitch. Sam did well tonight and we've got to get that consistency game in game out now and I'm sure he's aware of that.
"The table doesn't mean anything at this stage. Quorn won their first game of the season on Saturday and the game they put in tonight they were very solid all over the pitch. I was impressed with a number of their players; their defence in particular number two stuck out for me.
"They are very solid in midfield, the eight Sam Wood is a player I've admired a long time and the front two Liam Hearn and Robbie Beard. Justin Jenkins is suspended at the moment but they looked very, very comfortable and composed throughout and when you look at the bench, Nick Hawkins and we know what a good player he is on his day and they've got a good squad.
"They're first positive result was on Saturday and you see that tonight and you ask the question how and why but it's too early to be talking about league tables at the moment."
