Kidderminster Harriers 0-1 Kingstonian
BRAVE DAVE BEATS HARRIERS' BARRIERS
Kingstonian were forced to make a few changes for this game, as Gavin Holligan replaced the injured Eddie Akuamoah, ad Simon Brown re-appeared in the K's goal. Kevin Rattray also started the game with Joe Francis not making the team.
It took a while for any real action to occur though Kidderminster started the better of the two teams, a cross from the right ably cleared by Simon Stewart. This made K's wake up a little and Mark Harris went close at the far post following a corner from the left. Unfortunately he put his free header just wide and hit Leworthy rather than the back of the net.
Tackles were flying at this stage I the game, a number of tackles seemed to be late and this added a certain amount of spice to the game. After Holligan had become the victim of one such late challenge, Kevin Rattray intercepted a pass and won back possession for the K's. He threaded a near perfect ball to Dave Leworthy who just missed out on taking full advantage and collided with the opposing goalkeeper. Although no foul was committed, Leworthy came off badly from this challenge and fears about his right knee were only abated after a spell with the magic sponge on the side of the pitch.
K's were by no means playing badly. Tarkan Mustafa was looking good in his wing-back role - at one time he cut in from the right and tried a clever lob which just went wide. Simon Stewart and Mark Harris also had good games in the heart of the defence, the latter going quite close with a header, but they needed to be playing well to cop with the ever increasing Kidderminster pressure.
Geoff Pitcher, still struggling to retain the form of last season picked up a booking midway during the first half for ungentlemanly conduct after he'd blatantly dived in the Kiddy penalty area. Thankfully his midfield partner, Gary Patterson, was playing a brilliant game in the middle, linking the defence to attack effectively and even going close with a headed opportunity. But it was fellow midfielder, Kevin Rattray who started the move which led to the only goal of the game. He won possession in the middle of the pitch and sprayed the ball to Gavin Holligan, who again fed a good ball into Leworthy's path. This time, Leworthy could find the pace, and put the ball to the near post from about six yards out. The 'keeper did get a touch, but could only push the ball against the post and watch it bounce into the back of the net.
K's almost lost their advantage soon after though, as May hit the cross bar following a poor defensive clearance. The follow up was then struck powerfully by Taylor but went sailing high and wide. Kidderminster were looking for an equaliser at every opportunity, and again came close when Yates tried a Beckham-esque lob when Brown was off his line. The ball went to the right of the goal, but didn't miss by much and Yates rightfully received applause from all sides of the ground.
Holligan, who doesn't start matches as much as some might wish, furthered his claims for regular first team football with a fine performance. Indeed, Eddie, arguably the p[layer of the season so far, was hardly missed due to Holligan's fine work in his position. He played provider again for Leworthy who then turned the ball to Pitcher who wasted his opportunity. Holligan will however want to forget his missed opportunity just before half-time. Trakan Mustafa played a perfect ball in from the right which Gavin met on the volley with his left foot but could only direct the ball right into Brock's arms. Just before half time, Hadley went on a surging run on the left an did well to get a shot in, but as the half time whistle blew K's were rightfully 1-0 up.
Maybe partially inspired by the show put on by local youngsters during the half time interval, Yates unleashes a powerful shot from a way outside of the box which was heading towards the top right corner before Brown performed the save of the match and caught the ball with seemingly no effort at all.
Mustafa was a constant provider out on the right, and it was not long until a typical scurry on the right lead to a cross which Leworthy headed back into space on the edge of the six yard box, though it was unfortunate that no K's player could follow up in time.
But Kidderminster were having a fair amount of the ball too, and it often looked as though K's were trying to hold onto the lead rather than try for more goals. There were moments of frantic defence at times, and although the central three defenders were halting most of these attacks, the distribution was slightly below par and just lead to continued Kiddy attacks.
When K's did attach though, it always looked promising. A neat turn by Pitcher put Holligan through who cut in from the left and kept on going. Eventually he shot from the right of the penalty area but his shot was still enough to test Brock.
From this chance to the end of the game it was nearly all one way traffic in the Kidderminster direction. Maybe K's players were getting lost in this one way system, but the chances just kept on coming for the home team. Deakin turned on the edge of the 18 yard box and had a penalty appeal turned down. Yates, who received the man of the match award, went close again as his header bounced on the outside of the roof of the net, and substitute Cunnigton showed amazing control bringing down a ball which came from over his shoulder but, having done the hard part, completely messed his shot up preferring the terracing to the goal. Yates had another chance as the match continued but the referee's watch prevented them from inflicting any tangible damage.
So, the early goal was enough to win this game, and rightly so as Kingstonian were the better team on the day. If the form of today could be repeated more consistently then a real title challenge could yet be launched.
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Sat 10th Oct 1998 |
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1884 |
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Football Conference |
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Kidderminster H | 0 |
Kingstonian | 1 |
Leworthy |
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1 | Simon Brown | | |
2 | Tarkan Mustafa | | |
3 | Colin Luckett | | |
4 | Matt Crossley | | |
5 | Simon Stewart | | |
6 | Mark Harris | | |
7 | Gary Patterson | | |
8 | Geoff Pitcher | | |
9 | Kevin Rattray | | 12 |
10 | David Leworthy | | 15 |
11 | Gavin Holligan | | |
12 | Scott Corbett | | 9 |
14 | Wayne Brown | | |
15 | Russ Watkinson | | 10 |
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Mark Harris |
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Gary Ekins |
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