MEATY ENCOUNTER AT QUORN

QUORN 3 NORTHAMPTON ON CHENECKS 3
UCL PREMIER @ FARLEY WAY
30 OCTOBER 2019 --- 7.45PM

QUORN AFC AND THEIR FARLEY WAY GROUND

An equaliser by Matty Johnson for the visitors in the closing stages concluded a tremendous advert for attacking free flowing football and although Quorn would be disappointed to lose a 3-0 lead the
visitors would have also rued some missed chances that could have seen them take all three points back to cobbler city.  For the neutral though this was a fantastic encounter with both sides looking determined to go all out for the win Quorn with their attacking and pacey wingers Micah Jebbison and Joseph Brothwell against the spirited exuberance of a young Northampton side that never accepted defeat.

THE IMPRESSIVE MAIN STAND

Having gambled with Saturdays trip to the north east the boat was further pushed out with a mid week trip to Leicestershire that would need the help of a couple of cabs but with Mr R of the Platform 1 parish on board again we went for it.  A departure from spire town about 1 and a 1/2 hours before kick off andan immediate taxi from Loughborough saw arrival at Farley Way just after 7pm, a remarkable feat.
Quorn had been on the table for a fair old time now but never quite grabbed me but with the 3g option it always remained in the forefront.  Sadly tonight there was not time for a look around the village and being an evening game no action pictures unfortunately either, but after tonight's experience hopefully a afternoon game will follow soon.

COVERED TERRACE BY THE MAIN ENTRANCE

The ground is a superb effort and although the club sold Luke Varney to Crewe for a large fee I'm not sure if this is the result but if it is well done on investing in the facilities, alongside the additional surface now that sees Leicester Women play here this is a cracking set up.  Here goes with a circuit after paying in through the modern turnstiles to our right is a low smart covered stepped terrace all very modern and on the far touchline a near full length low slung stand with smart corporate red

seats, the far goal is uncovered with a flat walkway.  Back to the main touchline and the business end with changing rooms, board room, smart club house and the well separated dug outs side.  The club house contains the snack bar and on a cold night even with a small crowd was doing a nice trade.  The option for a chip cob was undertaken but it looked like no peas would sit aloft until the lovely lady serving came back with a tin of peas and away we went, excellent food and all with a friendly service too, well done Quorn.

On the pitch Quorn were riding high in the new berth of The United Counties League and against a struggling O.N. Chenecks, who I had pleasure in covering about three years ago, it looked as though it would be a foregone conclusion and when the home side led 3-0 just short of the half hour mark, you wondered how many they might secure but what unfolded was a night of superb entertainment.

THE BUSINESS AREA AT FARLEY WAY

The enterprising start from both sides saw Quorn break the deadlock after 17 minutes a 20 yard free kick saw Kieran Fenton who curled the ball low around the wall and in at the near post despite the superb effort of Noah Murray-Hawkins who got a hand to the ball.  It was two nil four minutes later when Brothwell tapped in from close range after a slick passing move and then just a minute short of the half hour mark the lead extended further when Brothwell added his second with a lovely cross goal shot that found the far corner of the Northampton net.

SHORTLY BEFORE KICK OFF

The visitors task was made harder a few minutes later when Ash Ogden was sin binned after a touch of dissent but during this time amazingly they pulled a goal back with a sharp header from Mitch Sharpe.
The second half saw Northampton with a new vigour but Quorn were still in the ascendancy score line wise that all started to fall into doubt on 65 minutes though when Joe Lewington reduced the arrears further.  Ten minutes later a fantastic double save from home keeper Max Culverwell denied the visitors and when the keeper also got involved in stopping the follow up as Quorn struggled to clear their lines the game was changing in its destination.

PRE MATCH WARM UP FOR NORTHAMPTON ON CHENECKS

Having said that the visitors keeper was on superb form to push over a Richard Whyman long range effort but with two minutes of the ninety minutes left this game gave the visitors further hope of snatching a winner when Johnson sensationally levelled the scores.
As the game entered stoppage time it was now the visitors who sensed the three points but by the time Matt Jackson had blown for full time the point a piece was a fair outcome one that the visitors would have taken at 3-0 down around the half hour mark and probably one Northampton were now very grateful for against one of the top sides in the league in Quoorn who of course would be bitterly disappointed to have a conceded a three goal advantage.  Overall as a neutral we both agreed it was a superb game, one I could have watched for quite a while longer and probably goes down as my best game of the season so far.

BRUSH ELECTRIC FACTORY A LUMINOUS BACKDROP TO LOUGHBOROUGH STATION

Reverse journey found us on a slightly delayed Arriva bus to Loughborough and after a brief look a round the walk to the station in full view of the Brush electrical factories neon light the only thing missing now is the old board that used to advertise Loughborough as 'The Home Of Ladybird Books'  Departure was on the slightly delayed 2235 to Nottingham before a change to a single car Northern service with an arrival back in spire town at midnight.  Taxi.