Harborough Town 1
Rose (96’)
Quorn 0
Luis Rose scored a last-minute winner to clinch a crucial win for Harborough against 10-man Quorn in a 1st v 2nd match that lived up to its billing.
Last season’s NLP Midlands Centurions, renowned for their free-flowing goals and high-octane football, came out of the traps looking to take the game to Harborough, however, the Bees rose to the occasion, matching the Methodists for intensity.
The first chance fell early on, when Simeon Cobourne pounced on a misplaced pass to drive at goal, forcing Elliot Taylor to palm away, with a lashed effort. The pair of Cobourne and fellow winger Finn O’Boyle, caused a constant nuisance, testing the resolve of the Bees’ backline.
With the game entering full swing, the complexion completely changed in the 14th minute, when Quorn’s Zak Goodson was shown a straight red for a reckless challenge on Devon Kelly-Evans, leaving the referee no choice.
As the half wore on, Devon Kelly-Evans began pulling the strings in midfield, breaking up play and spraying the ball out to the flanks. Quorn soaked up the pressure, looking devastating on the counter.
Dempsey Arlott-John looked menacing down the right, creating openings, and driving at his full-back. One particular run set up Ben Stephens, who swivelled on the edge of the box, curling a shot wide of the far post.
The 10-man visitors came close to taking the lead twice early in the second. Player Manager Ryan Beswick’s quick free kick teed up Cobourne, whose drilled shot was matched by Taylor. Moments later Beswick himself grazed the crossbar with a curled, left-footed effort.
The Bees responded by ramping up the pressure. Josh Walsh and Riley O’Sullivan found joy down the left, linking up well to provide Stephens
with two gilt-edged chances, but the striker shanked one effort and headed another well wide.
Mitch Austin engineered a tactical switch in an attempt to make the numerical advantage count, bringing on target man Paul Malone, adding attacking threat Luis Rose and introducing James Taylor, freeing up Walsh to play further forward.
Malone and Rose almost made immediate impact. Rose fumbled the ball just shy of goal from an awkward position during a melee in the box, while Malone headed over from close range.
The pressure finally told in the dying seconds, with the Methodists believing their heroics had earned a draw until the two inspired subs combined. Malone rose highest to nod the ball into the danger zone for Rose to connect with a crouching header that bobbled through the crowd and over the line, sealing the win and capping off a fantastic advert for the league.
Austin heaped praise on the opposition, admitting, “That was one of the best defensive performances I’ve ever seen in non-league football.”
Next up for the Bees is an exciting opportunity to create a little more FA Cup magic when they host Step 2 Worksop Town this Saturday.
MOTM: Devon Kelly Evans
REPORT: Ben Monti
PHOTO: RB Media
MATCH: Southern League Premier Central