Substitute Kai Fifield scores twice as Quorn win 4-3 at Bishop’s Stortford in Southern League Premier Central

Quorn’s Kai Fifield came off the bench to score twice and help condemn Bishop’s Stortford to a 4-3 defeat in a thriller at Woodside Park on Saturday (November 1).

The Blues led three times in the Pitching In Southern League, Premier Central contest, but Fifield’s brace - along with Charlie Johnson’s second own goal in four Stortford appearances - resulted in the third-placed visitors taking maximum points.

Steve Castle’s side, who have suffered three straight league defeats, sit 11th in the table, five points outside the play-offs and nine above the relegation zone. They are at home again this Saturday (November 8) when they entertain fifth-from-bottom Banbury United.

Blues goalkeeper Adam Hayton was forced into action early on when his save denied Mason Frizelle from close range.

The shot-stopper then parried a low left-wing cross and Billy Kee slid in to attempt to poke the ball home, but Stortford captain Jake Thompson made a good block.

The Leicestershire side continued to create chances, with Hayton keeping out Cain Noble’s volley before Zak Goodson narrowly missed the bottom corner.

But it was the hosts who landed the first blow in the 15th minute when Fabio Virciglio sent a first-time shot under the diving body of unsighted Quorn goalkeeper Tom Allsopp after Obi Onyeagwara had dribbled into the box.

Hayton made another couple of saves to thwart Goodson and Quorn skipper Reece Fyfe before the away side levelled matters thanks to left-back Deen Master’s powerful strike.

Stortford restored their advantage three minutes before half time when a corner was not fully cleared and Thompson rose to head home fellow central defender Johnson’s cross from close range.

There was still time before the break for Noble to force Hayton into a save with his legs, while, at the other end, a good Blues chance ended in Nahum Melvin-Lambert being flagged offside.

Fifield entered the fray for the visitors midway through the second period and the substitute equalised with his first touch by converting a low cross from the right.

Quorn had further opportunities as Hayton twice saved from Noble and Luke Cox headed wide from a free kick.

The Blues’ Melvin-Lambert had a goal disallowed for a push, but his side did go ahead for a third time when substitute Saleem Akanbi received the ball from Declan Phillips, via the aid of a deflection, and calmly slotted it into the bottom corner.

With four minutes remaining, Quorn left four players on the halfway line for a Stortford corner and the tactic worked as they counter-attacked and Fifield’s cross from the left was shinned into his own net by Johnson.

Melvin-Lambert, Virciglio and Phillips all then had shots from close range, with the latter firing over after defenders had blocked the first couple of efforts.

And Fifield then put the away side ahead for the first time in the match in the last minute of normal time by dribbling into the middle from the left wing and beating Hayton from the edge of the box.

The Blues almost claimed a remarkable equaliser, but Leon Davies’ deep cross from the left hit the underside of the bar with Allsopp beaten and Melvin-Lambert headed over.

Before the game, Stortford announced the departures of Luka Chalwell and Scott Kashket.

Blues: Hayton, Lethbridge (Haines 73), Davies, Dasilva, Thompson, Phillips, Melvin-Lambert, Onyeagwara (booked 42, Akanbi 59), Virciglio, Smith (booked 75), Johnson. Not used: Field, Forde, St Louis.

Quorn: Allsopp (booked 90+3), Bello, Master (Cobourne 83), Cox (Tetlow 86), Frizelle, Fyfe, Goodson, Beswick (Fifield 66), Kee (Onabirekhanlen 90+2), Noble (Burgess 90+2), O’Boyle.

Attendance: 441.