Tamworth 2 Harriers 2
Date: 03-01-11
Venue: The Lamb
att: 1183
away fans: 279
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Albrighton gets 2nd red card of the season
Report by Harry Taylor
A goal for Nick Wright against his former club, and one for Matty Blair, gave the Harriers a draw against Tamworth today at The Lamb. Wright, starting for the first time since Kettering away in October of last year, replaced the injured Jamile Matt in the starting line-up. For Tamworth the former on loan keeper, Ross Atkins, started against the Harriers while another former Harrier, Neil Mackenzie, was on the bench.
The aforementioned goal for Wright came within three minutes of the kick-off whistle following a free kick from Jack Byrne that found Chris McPhee who had a shot at Atkins with the goalkeeper parrying it away but only as far as Nick Wright who from two yards out could hardly miss and he slotted the ball into the back of the net to the Harriers fans delight.
The game was far from over and, to his agony, diminutive full back Lee Vaughan scored an own-goal to hand Tamworth an equaliser - Abdillahie Yussufs cross was met by Vaughan as he struggled to get to the ball before the Tamworth striker Alex Rodman and he put the ball past Danny Lewis in the Harriers goal.
With the equaliser the momentum was swung in the favour of Tamworth who then went into the lead in the 16th minute when Vaughan's headed backpass towards Lewis lacked power and only managed to put Yussuf through to hit a shot off the post and into the goal to give Tamworth a perhaps undeserved lead.
Wright was causing plenty of trouble to the Tamworth backline in an attempt to get an equaliser and it was one of his runs down the right wing, coupled with his trickery, that gave him the space to cross the ball towards the far post for Matty Blair who met it but didn't expect it and his effort was sliced and went back towards his own goal due to the poor connection.
Minutes later the winger made up for the glaring miss, as from the same position on the right as Wright previously, Callum Gittings crossed towards the far post and Blair was on hand to stab the ball into the net to even the game up once more to 2-2 and top off an action packed opening 25 minutes.
Lee Vaughan had a chance to make amends for his earlier mistakes and give Kidderminster the lead once more but following his run past three players his shot was blocked by his own man, Chris McPhee, who tried to avoid the ball but failed and it carried on harmlessly into the arms of Atkins.
The chances weren't all going in favour of the Harriers. Danny Thomas hit a superb shot from 20 yards out, forcing Lewis to make an equally superb reaction save - diving to his right to stop the ball going into the top right-hand corner. The subsequent corner was cleared away.
Following an action packed first half the second had much to live up to but failed dismally to match the excitement of the first. The game itself was far more even although the Harriers did arguably create the better chances of the half with the one of note from Wright whose 20 yard effort just before the hour mark looped up and forced Atkins into a good save.
Just before this chance Mike Williams had come on as a substitute, for his first appearance since going into hospital to have an operation on his foot, replacing Lee Vaughan who had a poor game and was on a yellow card.
In a half of little action the next chance arrived on the 79th minute from Keith Briggs in his first meaningful action of the game. He hit a dipping volley with the outside of his boot just wide of the right hand post to the relief of the Tamworth fans. McPhee then almost created a winning goal following his counter-attacking run down the right wing, putting in a cross that Tom Marshall, the dodgy permed Tamworth centre-back, could only head the ball onto his own crossbar and over.
The games final big incident came deep into stoppage time when, following his booking five minutes earlier, Mark Albrighton got a marginally early bath when he earned a second yellow that was quickly swapped for a red by the referee, for fouling Bakary Bojang as Tamworth looked to break. The incident was too late in the game to change anything but it means Albrighton will now sit out two games as it is his second red card of the season. The previous one came, ironically, at home to Tamworth in August.
The result itself was probably a fair one but if Vaughan hadn't made just one of his two mistakes it could have been a welcome three points and would have put the Harriers a point off the playoff places. It wasn't to be and the Harriers now travel to Gateshead on Saturday in search of another three points in their bid to reach the playoffs.
Man of the match goes to Nick Wright for his creativity and trickery in the first half as not only did he score the opener but he created subsequent chances throughout the game.
Goals for Tamworth: Vaughan 12 (og), Yussuf 17
Goals for Harriers: Wright 3, Blair 25
The Harriers Online MotM is:
Nick Wright
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Latest table and stats here
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Tamworth |
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Harriers |
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Atkins |
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Lewis |
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Tait |
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Vaughan |
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Marshall |
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Shaw |
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Bradley |
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Briscoe |
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Wilkinson |
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Albrighton |
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Mitchell |
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Byrne |
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Smith |
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Blair |
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Sheridan |
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Briggs |
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Yussuf |
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Wright |
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Rodman |
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McPhee |
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Thomas |
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Gittings |
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SUBS: |
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SUBS: |
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Connor |
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Stevens |
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Lake-Gaskin |
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Williams |
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Lyttle |
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Griffiths |
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Bojang |
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Thorne |
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Mackenzie |
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Hankin |
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REFEREE:
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Mr J Simpson
Lancashire
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