Match Preview | Quorn (H)
Halesowen to The Grove after five weeks as we host 4th placed Quorn in a huge battle for the play-offs
Head to Head
There has been just the one meeting between the two sides, the reverse league game of this season back in October. On a chilly Tuesday night in Leicestershire, the Yeltz went behind inside five minutes, as ex Yeltz man and fan favourite Simeon Cobourne hit a right footed strike into the bottom left. The Yeltz response was positive and just under 15 minutes later, Jason Cowley hit a powerful strike into the top right corner of former Quorn goalkeeper Tom Allsopp’s goal. The two sides looked fairly dangerous in the remainder of the first 45, with the best moves forward coming from the Reds. The start of the second 45 saw Cowley score his second of the game after he diverted in a superb Jak Hickman cross from the right. The Yeltz held firm for the remainder of the half, but a sucker punch arrived right on cue from the hosts. A 95th minute corner was awarded the way of the Reds, which saw an effort blocked before a strike from defender Silvio Bello struck the bottom left, his first goal of the season.
Russ Penn’s Thoughts
“I am massively looking forward to being back at home. I know it’s easy to say, but I think it has been a big factor in us losing momentum. We have been so good here. We have had three postponements in the last month, and our reaction to those have not been great with two defeats. Momentum is a big thing, and I think it has been an issue with us having played just three games in four weeks. We have trained well in that time, but wins and draws are the things that keep you ticking over, and our lack of chances to win games I think has affected us. We have to reflect on last Saturday now that it has happened. It was tough to take, very frustrating and not something we want to put our name to. We need a reaction from myself and the players, and I expect nothing else at home in a real six pointer against a top side. These are the games you want to play at the end of the season. Quorn are 5th in the league for a reason. They won promotion last season, and have taken that momentum into this campaign. They play with no fear, and we had a great end to end game against them in October. It felt like a defeat that day, because we dominated the second half, and conceded a second phase of a set piece that was preventable. Looking back on the game it was a good point, but now we are hosting them, three points is going to be pivotal come April.”
RUSS ON ALEX GUDGER’S ABSENCE LAST WEEKEND
“Alex has been really poorly, hasn’t felt 100% for a couple of weeks now. It has kind of gone around, not so much the players, but the football club. He has trained this week, and hopefully if all is well he can feature this weekend.”
RUSS ON CELEBRATING TWO YEARS AT THE CLUB NEXT FRIDAY
“It has been a fantastic two years. We come towards that milestone after two defeats, so I feel a little deflated, but I thoroughly enjoy every single day here. I look forward to taking this club even further because we have made great strides already. Saying that my only focus is on the remaining 14 games of the season. We have a points tally in my mind we need to get, and if we achieve it the next step is clear. Let’s just concentrate on the rest of the season, and the future years will speak for itself.”
Opposition Preview
Adam Harrison – Goalkeeper
The 27 year old signed in November from Bromsgrove Sporting. The shotstopper featured 17 times at step 3 for Redditch United & Bedford Town last season, before making 14 league appearances for step 4 Rushden & Diamonds. This season, Harrison made 14 league appearances for Bromsgrove, before making the move to Quorn, where he has made 15 league appearances. He has kept 6 clean sheets in those 29 games.
Zhani Burgess – Left Back
The 21 year old signed in October from League Two side Notts County. The left sided defender has made 15 league appearances this season, nine of which in the starting XI. He has only conceded 12 goals.
Ryan Beswick – Centre Back
The 37 year old, also the manager, has been at the club since the summer of 23, and manager since May 2024. The centre half scored 14 league goals, and featured in 33 league games last season, and has made 24 this season, all but two of which starts.
Mason Frizelle – Centre Back
The 29 year old signed in the summer of 24 from then step 4 side Gresley Rovers. The centre half featured in all 38 league games last season in Quorn’s promotion campaign. This season, Frizelle has featured in all but one of Quorn’s league games, all 29 in the XI.
James Taylor – Centre Back
The 26 year old joined last month from Harborough Town. The defender who can also play at left back featured in 35 league games for step 4 Uxbridge. This season, Taylor made 10 league appearances for Harborough, and since his arrival at Quorn has played in four league games, all of which in the XI.
Jasper Tetlow – Centre Back
The 23 year old signed in the summer of 24 from step 4 East Grinstead Town. The centre half featured in 29 league games last season, and this season has made 24 league appearances, 14 of which off the bench.
Silvio Bello – Right Back
The 23 year old signed in the summer of 23 from step 3 Ilkeston Town. The former Nottingham Forest academy man who played in Spain for CD Almunecar City featured in all but one of Quorn’s 38 league games last season. This season, Bello has scored twice, and featured in all but one of their league games, all of which in the XI.
Dennis Digie – Defensive Midfielder
The 24 year old signed in the summer from Redditch United. The midfielder who can also play centre half featured in six league games for Redditch last season, before featuring four times for step 5 Worcester Raiders and finishing the campaign at then step 4 side Lye Town. This season, Digie has made 19 league appearances for Quorn, 12 of which off the bench.
Finn Flanagan – Central Midfielder
The 20 year old signed at the start of the month on loan from League One side Mansfield Town. The midfielder featured on loan at Rushall Olympic, Redditch United, Mickleover Sports & Rugby Town. This season, Flanagan featured six times on loan at step 4 Matlock Town, before making the loan switch to Quorn where he made three league appearances, two of which in the starting XI.
Reece Fyfe – Central Midfielder
The 28 year old signed in January 2023 and since has made over 100 club appearances. The midfielder featured in 34 league games last season, and this season has made 27 league appearances, 23 of which in the XI.
Deen Master – Central Midfielder
The 24 year old signed in the summer from Barwell. The midfielder scored five goals in 40 league appearances for the Canaries last season. This season, Master has scored three goals, and featured in 27 league games, all but one of which starts.
Cain Noble – Central Midfielder
The 25 year old signed in the summer of 23 from the old Nuneaton Borough. The midfielder featured in 35 league games last season, and scored 13 goals. This season, Noble has scored three goals, and made 25 league appearances, 16 of which starts.
Gustavo Sanches – Left Winger
The 21 year old signed last month from Bromsgrove. The forward featured 10 times and scored once in the league for step 4 Boldmere St Michaels. This season, Sanches scored four goals in 23 league appearances for the Rouslers, and has since made four league appearances for Quorn, two of which in the XI, but is yet to score for the Reds.
Simeon Cobourne – Striker
The 29 year old signed in the summer from step 4 Sporting Khalsa. The ex Yeltz man and fan favourite scored 21 goals in 38 league games for the Wolverhampton based side, and this season has scored 10 goals in 26 league appearances for Quorn, 18 of which in the starting XI.
Jacob Fenton – Striker
The 25 year old signed last month from step 4 Belper Town. The striker scored 23 goals in 37 league appearances for step 4 Anstey Nomads. This season, Fenton scored three goals in 19 league appearances for Belper, but since his arrival in step 3 at Quorn has scored three times in six league appearances, all of which starts.
Zak Goodson – Striker
The 25 year old signed in the summer of 24 from step 3 Ilkeston Town. The former Derby County academy man scored 12 league goals, and featured in every league game last season for the Reds. This season, Goodson has scored 13 league goals, and featured in all but two league games, all but one of which in the starting XI.
Finn O’Boyle – Right Winger
The 20 year old signed in the summer from League One side Wigan Athletic. The right sided winger/midfielder featured for Wigan’s U21 side, and scored twice in five league games in the National League North on loan at Farsley Celtic last season. This season, O’Boyle has scored six goals for Quorn, and featured in all but one of their league games, 22 of which in the XI.
Statistical Insight
Halesowen
- Only Spalding United (43) have scored more second half goals this season in the Southern Premier Central than our 37.
- Only Spalding United (18) have scored more goals in the Southern Premier Central this season after the 76th minute than our 16.
- No other side in the Southern Premier Central this season have conceded more goals in the first 15 minutes than our 12.
- Only Stamford (21), Barwell & Stourbridge (19), AFC Sudbury (18) & Alvechurch (17) have had more games this season in the Southern Premier Central without a first half goal than our 16.
Quorn
- Only Spalding United (32) have scored more goals in the first half in the Southern Premier Central this season than Quorn’s 31.
- No other side in the Southern Premier Central this season have scored more goals in the first 15 minutes than Quorn’s 10.
- Only AFC Sudbury & St Ives Town (19) have conceded more goals after the 76th minute this season in the Southern Premier Central than Quorn’s 14.
- Only Spalding Jnited (21) have won more points from losing positions this season in the Southern Premier Central than Quorn’s 16.