Leicestershire La La La

Barwell 2-2 Quorn (Southern League Central Division)

So that's it then. Over for another year. Christmas day flashes before our eyes and we're already thinking about 2026, my wife has us already looking at summer holidays to Croatia.

I got a whiskey smoking kit and a chargeable heated seat pad, the latter of which I will aim to use over the upcoming games, perhaps a bit overkill for today as it's not that cold out and I'm not entirely sure how it works yet, a bit of drizzle in the air as I head to Leicestershire for a derby match between the counties third and fourth best teams (no prizes for guessing who's top).

Quorn are third in the division behind leaders Spalding United of Lincolnshire and second placed Harborough Town (the second best team in Foxes County behind, you've guessed it, Leicester City), Barwell are fourteenth and fourth best in the county of Leicestershire, they drew last time out at St Ives having beaten Banbury United at a game I was at earlier in the month, Quorn themselves lost at home to Worcester having won four straight games pre-Xmas. I've heard their lead up was slightly dented by a bit of illness in the camp, which might have hindered performance in a 4-2 home defeat seven days ago.

I'm on the road, heading down the A46, Forest are playing against Manchester City in the Premier League early kick off, my mood was dampened slightly on Christmas Day after hearing former Reds winger John Robertson sadly passed away, I'm joining in with the minutes applause which is played through the radio on five live as I wait at the traffic lights of the Hobby Horse Roundabout, Robbo won two European Cups under the legendary Brian Clough who called him 'a Picasso' when given a yard of grass. A scruffy bugger, you would often see him sitting outside his favourite café in West Bridgford suited up, with messy hair, a fag on and a glass of wine, a lovely humble down to earth man who you wouldn't recognise has done it all, a two-footed footballer, one of the best, who did beautiful things in the beautiful game.

My sat nav has taken me a different route today, through Leicester Forest East, as I cross over the M1 which looks very busy indeed, down the A47 Hinckley Road, it's a lot more direct than my usual trek through quiet and bouncy country cut throughs, I've arrived in good time to pull up at my standard spot on Kirkby Road, next to Barwell Cemetery and Kirkby Road Community Park which is just across the way from Barwell Sports Club.

The Venue

"You can't get a beer inside you know" I'm told as I walk through the turnstile ahead of 2pm. "It's ok, I'm working today, a cup of tea will do".

I'm first in, I'm told, but I do notice a couple of injured players and wags already inside the venue sat high up on the top row (8) of the main stand.

It's got a real village vibe has Barwell FC, situated next to the bowls and cricket club. The green seated stand is homely hogging half way, the ground condensed by fencing that surrounds the rest of the place. There's a kiosk near the players changing rooms, inside the kitchen hatchet you can smell chip fat and see smoke swirling around the ceiling, I'm starving having felt a bit rough in the morning, still recovering from my festivities and extended use of my new whiskey smoking kit from the night(s) before. I grab some chips and curry with a cup of tea and Yorkie and head up to the back row on half way to fuel myself ahead of the players warm ups.

It's fresh up here, a bit of a breeze but a great view, halfway line directly in front, the Quorn players come out to flick their heals and dust off their turkey dinners as Deen Master gets a jovial solitary boo, he used to play here before making the switch to the Stotto Stadium. In fact the stand I'm in is apparently named after him, although the banner behind me reads Dean Masters, whoever he is?

Barwell defender Sid Aitcha has just arrived in full tracksuit at 2:20pm, running in with his boots in his hand, he's in the starting XI today but for some reason he's late, the lack of preparation costs him a place in the team as he drops down to the bench with the experienced Isaiah Osbourne instead starting in his place.

It's packing in nicely ahead of kick off, there's a couple of old boys sat in front who recognise me from the Banbury match. "Where's your blanket today" they ask. "Wait till you see the heated seat I got for Xmas" I reply.

The Game

There's over 500 inside but it's a bit of a low key start for a derby game. Quorn have a lot of the ball but there's the odd pass that leads astray, the odd touch that bounces away, the away side look the better of the two, and the league table would suggest so, but Barwell are organised, hard to break down and they have the better chance early on, Jevin Seaton running clear and set free alone, but he places wide when it looked easier to score when one on one.

Both teams look similar in shape and style, Quorn attack often down their left, former Barwell left back Deen Master links well with Will O'Boyle who's their creative number eight, not yet having his best match, things aren't quite pulling off for him, top goalscorer Simeon Cobourne is quiet, on the periphery, sniffing an opportunity but nothing of note comes his way.

Barwell look dangerous on the break. Ethan Hill in midfield is showing good positivity, I like the look of him, a rough around the edges enforcer who will take the ball and push his team forward, he looks for positive passes to the likes of Kane Richards and Anthony Dwyer, the latter jinks in down the right, it's the first time he's properly got away, his low cross fizzes across the box and Mason Frizelle can only convert it into his own net. A goal which hopefully springs some life into the game.

The old boys in front have been chatting about what they had for Boxing Day dinner. One of them tells of his cheese board and some pickled onions infused with bay leaf's and chilli's, giving a real kick to the taste sensation, "they were lovely" he says. They've got the hip flasks out, one of them has a mini bottle of slow gin which is offered over to me at half time. "Have some of that he says, that should warm you right up".

The Score

Mason Frizelle missed a chance to make up for his error ahead of the break, blasting over from close range when the ball was nodded down to him inside the area, and Quorn have come out in the second half, finding a second gear, a leveller soon comes with Fyfe crossing low to Cobourne who classily converts, it all looks so simple.

Quorn are on the front foot and putting their hosts under pressure, Zak Goodson their playmaker wearing seven, he becomes more influential, he has time and space just inside the area, to shoot low and hard, the away side soon have the lead.

But Barwell aren't done yet, they ride their luck before Kane Richards gets space out right, he blasts in on the angle and sets up a spicy remainder late on, the rain has been hurling down, the wind gushing across the pitch, it's been a horrible day but a brilliant game that started slowly, brewing into a classic.

Substitute Tetlow cracks a post for Quorn as injury time approaches, then Goodson hits wide when he should have made the keeper work, there's nine minutes of added but no winner is found, a bit of relief for Barwell, a couple of points perhaps dropped for Quorn. The players applauded off for giving their all.

The Stars

The home side certainly worked hard for their point and it was the unspectacular water carriers who dug in, catching the eye the most, Ethan Hill might not have the guile of others but he has charisma and desire which you need in the engine room of midfield, especially aside the immobile Isaiah Osbourne who perhaps has seen better days.

I was impressed by centre half Freddie Cook who's a big lad with good feet, defends well and is tidy on the ball himself, in attack Barwell are a nuisance with Seaton, Dwyer and Richards all possessing something different, power, panache, pace. Their right full back Kornell McDonald also doing very well, against a lively left side of Quorn.

The second time in as many matches I was impressed with Quorn's full backs, Silvio Bello didn't put a foot wrong out right, Deen Master against his old club, often bombing forward, almost scored with a jinking run, he combined with Will O'Boyle who got better in the game from midfield, as did Zak Goodson who alongside Reece Fyfe look a terrific trio.

Simeon Cobourne got his goal, an Ian Wright like poacher who you might keep quiet for 89 and a half minutes. Gafar Abari looked a threat down the right and Dennis Digie looked lively when he came on, an awkward front man who gave Barwell's defence plenty to think about.

The Verdict

A draw perhaps fair outcome on Derby day, Quorn are the better team but Barwell battled and will fight anyone in the division toe to toe, I think they are perhaps a better team than their position suggests? In Manager Jimmy Ginnelly they have a competent squad that will turn plenty over in the second half of the season, especially at their home known for sponsorship reasons as the Crown Skip Hire Stadium.

Ryan Bestwick has built a bloody good Quorn team who are sitting comfortably now inside the playoffs, if they can keep up their form they'll be in it to win it, and promotion will be even closer to reality. Still a long way to go, I wonder will they have their sticky moment? Are they perhaps in their sticky moment? But if they can make the top five come season end, it'll be considered huge success regardless what happens after.

The Teams

Barwell: Finn Osborn, Kornell McDonald, Will Grewal-Pollard (Sid Aitcha 36), Freddie Cook, Ethan Hill, Kane Richards, Tyree Wilson (Tyrell Waite 74), Anthony Dwyer (Elwalid Elhaghany 80), Sonny Singh, Jevin Seaton, Isaiah Osbourne (Ryan Hayes 83).

Quorn: Adam Harrison, Silvio Bello, Deen Master, Luke Cox (Jasper Tetlow 57), Mason Frizelle, Reece Fyfe, Zak Goodson, Finn O'Boyle, Simeon Cobourne (Austin Samuels 83), Cain Noble, Gafar Abari (Dennis Digie 71).

3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 27th December 2025, Kirkby Road, Barwell (att 543).