Clubber Get Goals At Quorn

Quorn 3-2 Redditch United (Southern League Central Division)

I played over 500 games as an amateur, I coached around 150 semi-pro matches and have scouted ‘officially’ including today 257 games exactly, but I only ever managed three matches, when completely left alone to my own devices.

My first, was for Netherfield Albion against Westside, in the early 2000’s which we won 3-1 back in the Notts Amateur League, when I was helping out my uncle who was then Manager (he had something more important to do that weekend), my second in 2014, when both Manager’s above me had food poisoning and were off sick, was a Tuesday night at Rainworth MW which ended in a 4-1 loss at home to Spalding United (they had a big budget), whilst my third and final attempt, was over ten years ago, when working as Assistant to Gary Hayward who sadly died earlier this year aged 59, he was on holiday during a pre-season friendly in 2015 as I took charge of Real United, a now defunct Notts Senior League team, at Quorn FC, and earned a 1-1 draw which I was pretty proud about achieving.

I’ve not been back since, until tonight, as Quorn spent a number of seasons in the Midland League, after COVID they joined the United Counties League and earned promotion from the Premier Division North in 2023, what followed were two more good seasons in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, which they won last year, to achieve step 3 status for the first time in history, a club that established back in 1924 spent most of its early years (up until 2001) in the Leicestershire Senior League.

Redditch United I watched earlier in the season, they derived from Redditch FC who joined the Birmingham & District League in 1921 but formation dates back to 1891 under the name of Redditch Town.

United actually changed names in 1971 and since, the Worcestershire side spent spells in the Southern Premier and Conference North, they had a solitary season in the Alliance Premier during 1979/80 which was effectively the conference/fifth tier, their highest placing in the pyramid was a bottom place finish, for the last seven seasons they have played in the Southern Premier League Central which was constructed in 2018 during a shift in tabling where an extra division was added at step 3, in all they have spent the last fifteen years in the Southern League’s top division (which is the seventh tier of English football).

This season, both teams have been going really well which makes for an interesting tie tonight. Quorn are third, flying high in their first campaign in the division, having won their last three matches they thumped Needham Market 3-0 on Saturday. Redditch also winning 2-0 against Banbury, to end a couple of hiccups recently, they lost to title chasers Harborough Town 2-0 before being thumped 7-0 by league leaders Spalding, who in my opinion are both far and away the best two teams in the division.

I’m out the door for 6pm, I wasn’t even supposed to be here tonight as my match at Scarborough, which was scheduled to be played at Bridlington, against Hereford, was called off, plan B in place, Quorn used to be famed for having a lovely pitch, these days it’s all 4g which means on wet ones like today, the weather shouldn’t be an issue.

The Venue

I've pulled up on a side street off Farley Way. It's dark with drizzle in the air and nothing around as I walk a couple of hundred yards towards the Stotto Stadium which I presume is called so for sponsorship reasons.

You can hear the ball thudding in the warmups as I enter the gates to the car park, it's £12 on the turnstile paid contactless via card, entering in the corner behind the goal it brings back memories. The red brick clubhouse straight ahead iconic locally to those that frequent the venue, Quorn have two lovely low roofed stands that pretty much run the length, one opposite flank to the apex roofed clubhouse which houses bar and changing facilities, one behind the goal where I'm stood, the other end is open, all backed by tall fir trees the venue these days caged in by green mesh wire that also surrounds the synthetic playing surface which as I mention, used to be a lovely flat wide grass pitch.

I'm walking around taking a few snaps, some stragglers standing against the fencing as the two teams go through their pre-match paces but most folk are inside having a beer or brew, as I walk around to the red seated stand that runs the length of the pitch over the far side.

Rumour has it the seats are from the old Filbert Street when Leicester City moved over to the King Power, only three rows high they're in remarkable condition and the low roof offers you really cosy compact and homely viewing, warm and well protected from the elements.

Clubber TV are here tonight. Apparently, the UK's newest destination for sports fans, for £12.99 a week you can gain access to a handful of step 7 league games as well as second tier rugby union. They've a camera set up on some scaffolding by the clubhouse, it seems they've picked a good night for it.

The Game

As the crowd trickles pitch side out from the warmth the intentions are instant from Quorn who kick off, in all red they immediately pass forward on the referees’ whistle and burst into the Redditch half.

The away side are content letting Quorn do the hard pressing whilst looking to counter smartly down the flanks, it's a great opening that has attacks on top, Fabian Reynolds on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, a speedy left winger who scored twice in the win against Banbury on Saturday, he's slipped through by Liam Loughlan and slides home on 3 minutes to put United ahead.

The lead doesn't last long, Quorn are persistent and play on the front foot, on fifteen minutes Finn O'Boyle is found in space, he takes aim and rustles the net with a fine effort to level up.

It's frantic and within a minute Redditch are back in the lead, they go up the other end, win a corner and big Dexter Dudley-Toole rises highest inside the six-yard box. The away fans have been lively since the start, there’s around 20 of them behind the goal chanting “you vegan bastards” and “you’re not singing any more”.

Incredibly, there’s only 18 minutes of this manic match played and next highlight has Quorn striker Simeon Cobourne felled in the box, he’s won a penalty dispatched by player manager Ryan Beswick, the away fans now singing “we’re gonna win 10-9”.

But it’s not Redditch who retake the lead, but Quorn who take the lead, for the first time in the match they are ahead, on 22 minutes a shot from outside the box from O'Boyle crashes off the crossbar falling into Cobourne’s path, he stretches his neck muscles to diving head home and put the Leicestershire hosts 3-2 up, there’s still 68 minutes of this match left to play.

The Score

The first half settles somewhat, by now the home team look the better, more confident of the two, they have some striking power in their side, 4-3-3 they have two attacking full backs, midfielders that like to go forward, wingers that aim to take on full backs and an attacker in Simeon Cobourne that always looks a threat.

They have further chances as Billy Kee races through but blasts wide, when it looked easier to score, than on the stroke of half time a shot is cleared off the line as Redditch ride their luck.

Both sides make changes at the break, for Quorn one enforced as Billy Kee makes way for Austin Samuels, whilst Redditch bring on Billy Fielding and Matty Warburton, who in particular, starts to pull the strings in a contrasting second half to the first 45.

Warburton is brilliant and gives Redditch more control from a deep lying central midfield position, but Quorn sit in, they get deeper during the game and rely on longer forward passes to their pace in attack, often providing much needed respite.

Despite the possession dominance, Redditch fail rarely to test Harrison in net, it’s an intriguing half as Quorn defend really well, I’m impressed with Luke Cox beside Mason Frizelle at centre half, their full backs have grown into the match, in fact Silvio Bello at right back has been moved inside allowing winger Zhani Burgess to drop deeper, offering a five man back line which Redditch see no way through.

The Stars

Quorn have a seriously talented side and it's testament to whoever has instigated their recruitment drive. Presumably manager Ryan Beswick has had a lot to say in the matter, he's still playing, and doing well in central midfield, offering a good level head of experience around a youthful contingent.

Silvio Bello is 22 and looks a good athletic right back, Deen Master who I liked at Barwell is a left back who gets forward and drives, trying to make things happen. Mason Frizelle at centre half is captain, he has the odd rick in him but is largely honest, gutsy, dependable, as is Luke Cox who looks a very good defender despite his size.

In the attacking third though, this is where Quorn come alive. Zak Goodson has National League experience and is a playmaker these days, looking to get on the ball centrally and score or assist, Finn O'Boyle aged 20 signed in the summer from Wigan, he has guile and a bit of quality with an eye for a goal, Simeon Cobourne, the clubs top goalscorer signing from Sporting Khalsa in the summer, he's a real handful and persistent menace.

As for Redditch, who were far from outplayed, they had several players that can hold their heads up high on the night, in goal their on loan keeper Tyrese Warmington is scheduled to head back to Birmingham City in January, he'll be missed if so, always alert, he reads the game well and passes as competently as anyone. I doubt he'll be taken at football league level due to his height, but certainly feel he has a career at a top non league club at least.

In defence, Redditch didn't start too well against pacey opposition but they grew in the game, I liked right back Harrison Mole who's a teenager on loan from Oxford United, who played the second half at left back, whilst Morgan Owen looked decent next to Dexter Dudley-Toole at centre half.

Redditch vastly improved when the experienced Matty Warburton was brought on in midfield during the second half, he sprayed the ball around effortlessly, but in attack, they have flair, Liam Loughlan is a soft and swiftly footed footballer whilst Fabian Reynolds on loan from Wolves, has pace and dynamism, fast feet, a traditional style left winger with pace and trickery and one with an eye for goal.

The Verdict

I still think Harborough Town and Spalding United are the best two teams I have seen in the division this season, but Quorn are now knocking in third place just two points below their Leicestershire rivals Harborough, six behind the Tulips at top, but more importantly they have a cushion in the playoff places, now five above Redditch in fifth who are a point above Real Bedford just outside the promotion board game cut off.

With only one automatic place, and one spot via playoffs providing promotion, it's going to be a hard ask for both of these clubs, but if either could go on to the next level, it would be quite something, especially for Quorn who have never been there before, at the start of the campaign Manager Ryan Beswick targeted 50 points and survival, well, with over half of the season to go, he has forty points and is already just ten off target.

The Teams

Quorn: Adam Harrison, Silvio Bello, Luke Cox, Mason Frizelle, Deen Master, Zak Goodson, Ryan Beswick (Reece Fyfe 70), Finn O'Boyle (Dennis Digie 90), Zhani Burgess, Billy Kee (Austin Samuels 46), Simeon Cobourne (Jasper Tetlow 87).

Redditch United: Tyrese Warmington, Harrison Mole, Morgan Owen, Dexter Dudley-Toole, Jack Loughran (Billy Fielding 46), Reece Flanagan (Omari Brown 71), Aram Soleman (Matt Warburton 46), Liam Loughlan, Danny King (Jimmy Richardson 71), Alex Cameron, Fabian Reynolds (Bruce Minaker 90).

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 9th December 2025, Farley Way, Quorn (att 259).