Match Report  |  Quorn vs Gresley Rovers

Despite the scoreline this was a decent showing by a side who has seen several senior players leave the club after the parting of the ways with the manager after the Bedworth game.

Due to a persistent shoulder injury to goalkeeper Lewis Fenney, Rovers fielded a 17-year-old custodian who ended up as man of the match and at no fault for any of the goals.

There was a new face in the starting line-up or rather a returning one as Aaron Cole came in in midfield and for the first 20 minutes or so Rovers had the better of the chances.

With just 4 minutes on the clock Jamie Sleigh went close but saw his shot flash just wide of the upright while at the other end Rovers keeper Aiden Sharpe made two of several good saves he would make throughout the game. Firstly, by pushing away a cross-cum-shot from the right by Charlie Marzano which was heading into the goal followed by another fine save blocking a shot from close in. Germaine Agusteine then tried his luck for the visitors, but his shot also went wide.

Meanwhile, at the other end Marzano went close again flashing a shot across the face of goal, but it wasn’t long before the home side opened the scoring. A defensive header was only headed as far as the impressive Tyree Wilson just inside the area who controlled the ball before hammering the ball back into the net.

Sharpe was called on to make another fine save, but he couldn’t do anything to prevent goal number two which was the result of some poor defending allowing Paddy Webb to punish the error.

Agustein fired a shot from distance which needed two attempts before home keeper, Charlie Woods, secured the ball.

Courey Grantham then went close to adding goal number three but a superb save from Sharpe at close range denied him. Goal number three did arrive just 60 seconds later when a cross from the right found Cain Noble unmarked in space in the middle of the area who drilled the ball past Sharpe.

With the first half almost up Rovers had a good shout for a penalty but the apparent hand ball was dismissed by the officials. Whether that decision unsettled the Rovers’ players, but Wilson was allowed a run through the middle hardly challenged before slotting the ball past Sharpe for goal number four.

Rovers made changes at the break with Dylan Hunniford replacing Lewis Belgrave and Tyler Donaldson replacing Finlay Barker who had received a knock late in the first half.

Sharpe was called on again with another fine save pushing a well struck shot from Wilson away for a corner. Quorn then made changes themselves Ant Carney and Jack Samples replacing Grantham and Wilson respectively. For Rovers, Jordan Edwards replaced Kane Lee.

It was one of Quorn’s substitutes who added goal number five. A well worked free kick ended with Samples firing home. Sharpe was still busy making another save.

Rovers did get on the score sheet on 79 minutes. A defensive slip allowed Sleigh to nip in and recover the ball before taking a couple of strides forward before lobbing the ball over the onrushing Woods and into the net with the aid of the underneath of the bar.

Rovers went down to 10 men with ten minutes remaining when Charlie Jemson collected his second yellow card and their misery was compounded six minutes later when Hunniford, who had been having a good game since coming on as a substitute at half time, unfortunately played an attempted pass back to Sharpe which was far to short allowing Tyrell Shannon-Lewis to race forward beating Sharpe to the ball and shooting into the unguarded net.

The final score line was a little harsh on the visitors and especially young keeper Sharpe but to be fair Quorn look a side who will surely have a good season on this showing.