MotM: 23-10-21 Bradford PA (H) Sterling

[Phil]

It's about time we won a league game. Will this be it?

[Mayo]

Certainly a game we should be looking to win to arrest our run of defeats and get back towards the playoff berths IMO

[TWG85]

Here's hoping. Said Brackley seemed like a must-win coming off the back of two defeats against promotion rivals and a draw with Guiseley. Seems very much the case now.

And Bradford look as though they'll be struggling again this season, in the bottom six or so. Really the home games they need to be winning.

First of a run of four weekends in a row at home as well.

[Phil]

The referee for the game against Bradford PA is Aaron Bannister.

Aaron Bannister comes from........West Yorkshire. That includes Bradford.

You couldn't make it up.

[Phil]

And the ref for the game at Chorley on Tuesday is from.....Preston. Some 12 miles away

[andrewb]

In the prediction league thread most have gone for a home Harriers win - 20 for the win, with 1 for the draw and 1 for a defeat

https://www.harriers-online.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=12131

[TWG85]

[Phil]

BPA bring in two loanees from Sheffield Utd: https://bpafc.com/blades-duo-join-on-loan/

[Mac]

We are currently 2nd in the league.

1. York City.. 2533
2. HARRIERS 1790
17. BPA....... 554

Time to move up the actual league table and be consistent with the average attendance league table.

Professional 3-0 to 5-0 win today against part timers who have won 1 out of 8 league games.

[Swansea Harrier]

Couldn't make it today (wife's 40th birthday and a family weekend away in Liverpool has taken precedence), but a super result and three points. They were doing all right away, but really felt like we needed that. Can't wait to hear from those who went to the game.

[Badger]

Great result. Nice to see opponents who try to play football rather than sit with 10 men behind the ball. The one worry for me even with such a great score line and I really don’t want to be negative but we seemed for a part of the game at least to be outplayed in the midfield.

I have gone for Sterling as MOTM the free kick was worth the admission fee on its own

COYR

[BobGreenwoodsDad]

A flattering scoreline overall. First half I thought BPA were the better team and Kiddy were very lucky to go in ahead. I don’t know what RP said at half time but, my word, it worked. In the second half we just steam-rollered them. It makes a change for Kiddy to be the team that takes its chances for once. We were also helped by some rather dodgy keeping. I didn’t think Harriers were as pleasing on the eye as in the first couple of home games but a very impressive result nonetheless. Even Mac must be mildly satisfied

[garthrockett]

A 2-1 scoreline would have been more reflective of the overall game, though to be fair both teams flattered to deceive at times.
Full marks for Freemantle in following up the BPA keeper's fumble from a long range speculative shot, and the second goal was well worked, only for the defence to lose concentration and let the visitors back in before half time.
Sam Austins move into the middle second half helped create space, and Bejami's excellent distribution suggests he might be able to step up into midfield at some stage.
Once the third had gone in the result was not in question.

Interesting to see how we approach the Chorley game on Tuesday now.

[Grumpy old man]

Game of two halves - as they say.

First half BPA played the more pleasing football (without threatening our goal on many occasions). We scored twice from two of of our very limited number of meaningful attacks. We generally looked lethargic

Second half we dominated - even though they crashed the ball against the post as hard as I can ever recall. I presume words were said at half time as the whole team appeared to have stepped up a gear.

The optimists would say that that shows that RP can get a response from the players. Mac would ask why were we so poor in the first half? I'll sit on the fence - as long as it does not get too uncomfortable!

[TWG85]