Fab Friday (For Quorn)
Quorn 4-0 Alfreton Town (Northern Premier League)
Friday night football is a thing in Leicestershire. Ryan Beswick the current Quorn manager proposed the idea earlier in the season and it took off after over a thousand turned up for their FA Cup game against Shepshed. His thoughts, if everyone plays on a Saturday, and nobody plays on a Friday, perhaps those that wouldn’t usually, might just attend, so let’s see if he’s right on a cold dark night in November.
The form has picked up since the last time I watched Quorn who are eighteenth in the division, now four points above the drop zone. The Methodists beat Warrington Town 3-2 last time out although almost relinquished their three-goal lead, in the end edging a match where their opponents fought back to reduce the deficit to one.
Alfreton themselves are doing ok following relegation last season, ninth in the table, rumours of a take over pending have hit a bit of trouble having fallen through, but they are unbeaten in five if we include their midweek Derbyshire Senior Cup win over Belper Town, before that they beat Emley in the league 2-1 although like Quorn were made to dig in desperately late on as they were reduced to ten men after Daniel Odunaiya got himself sent off.
It’s been a quick turnaround for me, whisper it quietly but I booked a trip to New York to treat the Mrs for being a football widow, a couple more weeks of work then I’m off to do some Christmas shopping Stateside.
Just a short drive is Quorn, 15 miles and down quiet country lanes through South Notts and North Leicestershire, I’m through the pretty town of Barrow-upon-Soar before arriving on a cul-de-sac off Farley Way, an hour before kick off it is dark and chilled very quiet in these parts of rural Foxes county.
The Venue
It’s £13 on the door, contactless or cash, once in you arrive in the south corner of the ground, a little tea bar on the left, the club house further down the touchline built of bricks, players are on the pitch warming up as I walk behind the back of the goal which has a low roofed terrace, towards another low roof stand with seating which hogs the touchline, Liam of Alfreton Town is tweeting away sat alone in the press area, he asks me ‘how was Sunderland’ and I sit alongside him to get the latest Reds gossip.
Far from as busy as the last time I was here for that cracking cup match against Shepshed, about half as many in attendance but according to gate takings that’s ok because Quorn usually get three or four hundred, tonight there’s just over five hundred so it looks like a good shout by Ryan Beswick who tonight starts himself in midfield.
The sparse crowd means it’s nice sat at the back of the stand, plenty of people sitting up close but plenty of room too, no dickheads, no booze, no trouble, the only annoying noise comes often from groups of young kids running past and the decibel levels of the tannoy playing music at ear puncturing rates.
The Game
It feels sombre, quiet, relaxed, much more laid back than last night at least but I’m closer to the action today, sat four rows up with a nice roof over my head keeping cool whilst eating some sweets, as Quorn walk out in red, Alfreton in yellow, ‘Cmon you Derbyshire reds’ cries Liam, as I’m a little confused having usually watched the away side play at home, it takes some getting used to seeing their opponents in all red.
Quorn are good, rejuvenated of late and by playing himself in a middle of a three, it seems like the Manager gives his side a bit of license and experience in midfield, I’m massively impressed by the early moments of Jesse Friend who wears number eight, he’s full of running but showing good quality too, whilst Madou Cisse on the left wing is having a good game causing trouble with his direct play, Alfreton who played on Tuesday night don’t forget, look a bit laboured and not ‘as much’ up for the fight as their hosts.
The home side have already had a couple of sniffs before a long pumped ball forward has the Alfreton centre halves caught on their heels, young Terrell Pennant runs through showing electric pace, he can’t be stopped and slides calmly home like a seasoned number nine. 24 minutes gone and it’s the first I have noticed of him tonight.
It’s a good competitive half where Alfreton claw themselves back in the game, the talented Dylan Youmbi has been anonymous out right, he goes down with an injury off the ball, I’m told similar occarances have happened previously, but the visitors bring on Jakub Kruszynski and are immediately better, he combines with Jack Nadin who seems to have a new lease of life whilst growing into the game is on loan midfielder Riley McLachan from Mansfield Town, he’s tigerish with a bit of nastiness, has some quality too, as he drives a shot inches wide following a mazy dribble.
The Score
At half time it’s still anybody’s, next goal vital and all that, but as the tannoy music makes it impossible to speak to Liam who's sat next to me, we have a pause in some pulsating 80’s classic for news of a medical emergency in the club bar over the opposite side. Apparently an Alfreton fan needs ambulance attention, and there’s a delay whilst all that gets sorted.
The half time break is around 25 minutes long which I’m sure at least boosted the bar takings but after a short warm up, the players are back out, Alfreton however seemed to have lost their mojo, that good work they did before half time, interrupted, and now territory is back in the hands of the hosts.
A slick move has Jesse Friend make it two. He rounds off with a smart finish after a late run from a low cross out right on 50, then Pennant puts the game to bed, running through again, nobody’s catching him, another smart, cool, composed finish, passing into the bottom corner below Roberts in the Alfreton goal.
There’s a chance to pull one back as Ligendza is tripped inside the Quorn box, he steps up and shoots his penalty bottom right, an easy save low left for Laban who clutches the ball full grasp, if it wasn’t Alfreton’s night, further evidence became clear when Ewan Robson, who had just been booked, hauled down his man on half way, two yellows equalling one red, Liam telling me “anyone would think it’s Friday 13th for us”.
With a man advantage Quorn can enjoy the later stages passing, moving, irritating the likes of Riley McLachlan who looks like the type to have a temper, which I love by the way, he controls his anger to save himself from getting into naughty books but late on a homecoming hero Zak Goodson gets in on the act, he had been playing for Matlock before rejoining the club he played for last season, another smart finish from another smart moving crowning off a good day for all bar anyone associated with Alfreton.
The Stars
A lot to like in this Quorn team who played an off set 4-3-3 with four solid defenders, Freddie Cook at centre half I already really liked, but Finlay Tunstall at right back had been impressing recently I heard, he was very good getting forward and playing positively on the front foot.
In midfield manager Beswick had a really good game just sitting in front of the back four, Edwards and Friend beside him very good, Jesse is on loan from Notts County having signed for them from Shepshed Dynamo, just 20 years old he looks a really good prospect with fitness, drive and skillset combined.
Terrell Pennant was another who surprised me having been underwhelmed by him in past games, he does have something about him (which is why he’s already played for the likes of Coalville, Rushall, Kettering, Alfreton & Harborough since leaving Leicester City) and I would love, now at the age of 24 for him to do what he did tonight, some more.
Another who’s game has grown (although he hasn’t) is little Madou Cisse on the left, he’s a fun winger to watch who is direct and improving each week, just 21-years old, another who has came through the Notts County youth system.
Not a night where Alfreton played well collectively but individually they had moments, George Grumley I’m told has been a very good signing for them at right back, he ended up centre half after Ewan Robson was sent off, Sam Parker at left back was relatively solid, whilst in midfield I really liked what I saw from Riley McLachlan, an angry lad who I agreed with Liam, perhaps needs to play with that anger, to get the best out of himself. He’s good on the ball, athletic, tigerish, committed, all the things you want from your number eight.
A couple of other mentions, one for Reece Fyfe who ran his socks off against his old club, nobody probably ran more all night? Jack Nadin shown moments, he has a lot to learn at this level, but I think he has a lot to give too. A former Nottingham Forest playmaker who was last year released by their Academy. Siya Ligendza despite his penalty miss was a constant menace, as was Daniel Odunaiya off the bench, I would like to see the two together play up front as I believe Alfreton would be much stronger when both are on the field.
The Verdict
A night to write off for Alfreton, don’t dwell on it, pick yourself up and go again on Tuesday, of all places they’ll be heading off to Workington, the coach leaves North Street at 1:30pm in the afternoon.
As for Quorn, next up they face Stockton at home with their tails currently flapping at the thought, unbeaten in seven league games they start the weekend in mid table’s safe haven and suddenly have the sights on catching those above.
No news of the old boy who needed medical attention, I hope he’s feeling better, a bad night for Alfreton but another successful Friday in Quorn, I’m all for more of these games as it at least gives me a match to watch ahead of my standard weekend practice, now it's time for Mansfield v Macclesfield.
The Teams
Quorn: Jake Laban, Finlay Tunstall, Kai Source, Aidan Edwards, Mason Frizelle, Freddie Cook, Terrell Pennant (Zak Goodson 73), Jesse Friend, Billy Kee (Tim Berridge 73), Ryan Beswick (Luke Shaw 61), Madou Cisse (Brad Gascoigne 75).
Alfreton Town: Alfie Roberts, George Grumley, Sam Parker (Daniel Odunaiya 65), Kasper Williams, Ewan Robson, Connor Dixon, Dylan Youmbi (Jakub Kruszynski 35), Riley McLachlan, Siya Ligendza, Reece Fyfe, Jack Nadin (James Hanson 65).
7:45pm Kick Off. Friday 6th November 2026, Farley Way, Quorn (att 505).
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