Match report Vs FC Utd of ManchesterVenue: Broadhurst ParkDate: 12-08-17Att: 1946 (away fans: 100 est)

12-08-17 - Report - FC Utd of Manchester 1 Harriers 2

Sonupèr Harriers get their first win of the season

Report: Phil Lench

Two goals, one in each half, from Manny Sonupè gave the Harriers a well deserved first win of the season. At first it didn’t like it was going to happen when FC Utd opened the scoring so easily in the sixth minute of the game, the un-marked Danny Wisdom slotting the ball home from a corner with it taking a deflection from Liam Daly on the way.

We started the game with wholesale changes to the team that turned in their worst performance for many a year at Nuneaton on Tuesday evening. Out went Cieron Keane, Daniel Nti and Josh Webb completely in exchange for new boy Joel Taylor, Sonupè and Kennedy Digie. Starting was Elton N’Gwatala and Dan Bradley with Sam Austin and Declan Weeks going to the bench alongside Andre Brown, Liam Truslove and a first chance for Jean-Michel Joachim.

With Digie replacing Tyrone Williams alongside Liam Daly we saw Williams revert back to his traditional full back position and we looked so much better for it. Not to say we were brilliant because in the opening minutes of the game we looked all over the place culminating in their goal.

Richie Baker had forced Brandon Hall into saving well from his low drive but the corner that followed was easily sent home by Wisdom. Our heads dropped for a while and Utd continued to press in search of another goal but thankfully their shooting was as wild as ours was at Nuneaton.

Slowly, but surely, we began to gain enough confidence to return the pressure through some neat passing and that resulted in a shot from Bradly that was on target but rising over the bar. A few minutes later, somewhat against the run of play, we had drawn level. Bradley crossed the ball in from wide and both Joe Ironside and Sonupè went up for it but it was the latter that directed the ball down and over Lloyd Allinsons goal line.

That was the catalyst for the Harriers to take charge of the game and by the end of the half we were firmly in control. Had we taken all the chances on offer we should have gone into the break at least 3-1 up but a mixture of good goalkeeping and missed chances for Sonupè when he hit the bar and Ironside when he missed an open goal didn’t help our cause.

HT: 1 – 1

Apart from an early chance for Utd, when Brandon Hall blocked a scrambled chance for Jason Gilchrist after pushing away a shot from Connor McCarthy, it was the Harriers in their striking yellow shirts and red shorts that made then look a little like Watford who took control of the game. James McQuilkin, Bradley and Elton took charge and everything we did well came through them.

Elton hoisted the ball over the bar and then a thrilling chance for McQuilkin at the foot of the post saw his low down header pushed away by Allinson. We began to bring subs on in an effort to confirm our superiority with Andre Brown coming on for the luckless Ironside while soon after Liam Truslove came on for N’Gwatala. Brown put himself about a little more than Ironside did but Truslove had very little effect on the game.

Brown sent one over the bar just before Sonupè grabbed the second goal of his brace. We earned a corner, following relentless pressure, that was taken by McQuilkin into a packed goal line. The ball bounced around a bit and it was that man who forced it home through a crowd of legs.

We could have gone on to increase our lead further with our best chance falling for Dan Bradley but he put his driven shot just wide. With four minutes of added time we played the game out by putting the ball into the corner when we didn’t really need to and then more time was added on when Hall suddenly dropped to the floor clutching his ankle. Hopfully it’s not serious and he’ll be fit to face Leamington on Tuesday evening.

FT: 1 – 2


Goal for FC Utd: Wisdom 6

Goals for Harriers: Sonupè 18, 79


The Harriers Online MotM is: Manny Sonupè

Talk about the game here and phone the Harriers Hotline on 01905 577 777 after the game too

Latest table and stats here


FC Utd of ManchesterGoalsSubsTimeCards
Allinson    
Senior    
Wisdom   
T Brown    
Fagbola    
Hughes   
McCarthy    
Lowe   
Gilchrist 82 
Baker 49 
Logan 64 
 
Subs: 
Greaves 82 
Lingfield 64 
Corbett    
Hooper 49 
St Juste    
 
HarriersGoalsSubsTimeCards
Hall    
Williams    
Taylor    
Croasdale    
Daly    
Digie    
Sonupè   
McQuilkin    
Ironside 64 
Bradley    
N’Gwatala 76 
 
Subs: 
A Brown 64 
Truslove 76 
Austin    
Weeks    
Joachim    
     
Referee: 
Mr Benjamin Speedie
Liverpool