Harriers go on an opening day rampage

A sumptuous attacking display from Kidderminster Harriers saw them hold a 5-0 lead at half time against Curzon Ashton, before running out 6-1 victors.  Arthur Gnahoua's brace helped Harriers on their way as they outclassed Curzon in nearly every department.

It was the Harriers first game below the Conference in thirty three years and they were backed by a good number of fans who had made the trip to Tameside.  The only sour point was the three smoke bombs thrown onto the pitch, the first at the start of the game, and one after each of the first two goals.  Both the club and Curzon could stand to be fined for the mindless action.

The line-up for the away side was as to be expected with Jordan Tunnicliffe partnering Keith Lowe in the centre of defence.  Ashley Carter played the defensive midfield role, vacated by the recently departed Ousmane Fané.

It took the Harriers seven minutes to open their account for the season.  Gnahoua and Zaine Francis-Angol, a partnership on the left that tore the home side apart countless times in the first half, linked up well, culminating in Gnahoua crossing the ball for Elton N'Gwatala to put the ball past Hakan Burton.

The Harriers barely broke into a sweat as time and time again the play down the left wing caused Chris Rowney in the Curzon defence nightmares.  It was down this wing that the assist for the next goal came, with James McQuilkin crossing the ball to be headed in by Mani Dieseruvwe.

The goals kept coming thick and fast, Ashley Carter added a third for Harriers when he hammered the ball home from twenty five yards out and then came the first of Gnahoua's brace.  N'Gwatala slotted the ball into Arthur who tapped the ball under the sprawling body of Burton for Harriers fourth.  Seven minutes later and Harriers had their fifth with the familiar combination of N'Gwatala and Gnahoua, as the former Stalybridge man rounded Burton, kept his balance and put the ball into an empty net.

5-0 at half time.  Harriers, and their fans, were in dreamland.

The second half saw John Eustace in his first competitive game as manager feeling that we were safely home enough to withdraw N'Gwatala, McQuilkin and Gnahoua and replaced them with Liam Truslove, Robert Stambolziev and Sam Austin.  Curzon came back into the game slightly as Harriers then treated the game as a training exercise.

The goalscoring for the Reds wasn't over, however, as Liam Truslove hit a shot from twenty yards out that took a deflection over the defender challenging him, and arrowed into the bottom corner of Burton's goal.

Minutes later and Curzon did give their own fans a reason to cheer as substitute Joe Guest headed past Sam Hornby to get a consolation goal back.  Harriers had further chances to increase their tally through Tyrell Waite and Dieseruvwe, the latter firing wide after taking the ball past Burton.

What a way to start the Harriers season in the Conference North, hopefully a brief stay.  It won't always be this good, but best to make the most of it whilst it lasts.

 Goal for Curzon: Guest 73
 Goals for Harriers: N'Gwatala 7, Dieseruvwe 15, Carter 23, Gnahoua 34, 41, Truslove 68

REFEREE:

Mr K Sarsfield Lancashire