Northern Premier League | Midland Division | Saturday 28 September 2024
In a game as close as the score suggests, a 58th minute far post header from a corner, by mountainous defender Mason Frizzelle, separated the teams. The Mikes were hampered by two early, rather harsh, bookings, to Corey Cooper and Ollie West. The latter had been Boldmere’s early play maker, and one wonders whether this yellow card cramped his style from here on. As it was, from the first quarter of an hour, the visitors carved out more chances than their hosts. There were eight occasions when it looked possible, they might score, as opposed to Boldmere’s two. Most of their efforts, however, were off target, Jonathan Brown only being stretched when coming out to deny the onrushing Cain Noble on the half hour, and having to palm away a floating centre eight minutes later. Half time: 0-0.
Interesting duals punctuated proceedings, Quorn wingers Zak Goodson and Jordan Clarke continually changing channels and causing plenty of brainwork in the Mikes’ rearguard, while Theo Rowe usually had to navigate three pairs of boots on his journey goalwards. The goal, when it came, followed a period of Quorn pressure, and six minutes later the home bench evidently thought something needed to be done to turn the tide – and made a treble substitution. The tide, indeed, turned somewhat, and Quorn’s substitutions, when they came, reinforced the rearguard at the expense of seeking further goals.
As time ineluctably ticked away, the Leicestershire men sometimes had eleven bodies back in their own penalty area to resist free kicks and corners. Chances were fewer now, but Boldmere had more of them. Six minutes from the end of standard time, Quorn keeper Tom Allsopp was berating his defence after the Mikes twice came within an ace of equalising within a minute. Quorn’s efforts were now on the break, and there was much scrabbling in the home box before a free kick from the left was eventually cleared away. There was a loud shout for a penalty when a floored Quorn defender, attempting to regain the perpendicular, possibly handled the ball; but a spot kick would have been a harsh decision against a man with two attackers all but sitting on him. Our natty new score board was soon indicating that the allocated four extra minutes had been and come and gone. “Ref, we done?” asked an anxious Allsopp – and indeed we had, cementing Quorn’s third position in the table, Boldmere (despite their defeat) remaining in the Playoff positions.
Boldmere St Michaels: Jonathan Brown; Lewis Allison; Corey Cooper; George Cleet; Joe Hull; Daniel Atkins (Callum North, 76); Theo Rowe; Oliver West; Liam Murphy (Jake Collins, 63); Hisham Chiha (Sean Devlin, 63); Daniel Gyasi (Alfie Taylor, 63). Sub. not used: Kyle Burke.
Quorn: Tom Allsopp; Silvio Bello; Jack Samples; Jordan Gough; Mason Frizelle; Reece Fyfe; Zak Goodson; Ryan Beswick; Mitch White (Jack York, 69); Cain Noble (Courey Grantham, 82); Jordan Clarke (Paddy Webb, 78). Subs. not used: Hari Corbett; Jonathan De Lacerda.