02-05-23. Match report Vs Alfreton Town. Play off eliminator

Another early goal on the way to promotion

Report: Harriershane

This report is being written the morning after the night before, and if you’re anything like me then you’re tired, sore, elated, struggling to be productive and looking for unethical ways to get out of work/family duties to get to Kings Lynn on Sunday. Maybe I’m just old…

Spare a thought then, for how the warriors in blue must be feeling physically this morning after withstanding a 96 minute aerial assault from an Alfreton Town side bewildered that their tactics weren’t working.

Team news was simple enough, an unchanged 16 from Saturday’s steamrollering of Kettering Town that sent them down. With over 800 in the uncovered terrace, having been in for the better part of an hour, the game finally got underway with Harriers reprising their role as quick starters. Just 33 seconds had been played when Zak Brown found himself on the left byline to float a ball in where it was met by the head of Amari Morgan-Smith who directed it towards the far post, bamboozling George Willis in the process who, through the benefit of replay, seemed to just let it go in.

Not that we’re complaining! From the away end at the other side of the pitch it was very much a delayed reaction as we weren’t sure if it had gone in or struck a post, but as the veteran frontman wheeled away, the message was clear and the celebrations started.

As expected, Alfreton would try and find their way back into the match and it all centred around getting the ball in the air to the veteran Matt Rhead, primarily from Adam Lund’s long throws. In previous years it may have proven fruitful but not on this night with Kyle Morrison a colossus alongside Krystian Pearce and Alex Penny.

The early goal may well have knocked the stuffing out of Alfreton, with Harriers controlling the game without creating any real sighters of goal, although Shane Byrne nearly added a late Goal of the Season contender after 18 minutes, with a dipping chest and volley that looped just over.

The opening half an hour followed that pattern, Harriers trying to control the game and the hosts trying to get the ball into the box. They did so regularly but Christian Dibble was immense, coming through crowds to claim each and every ball that wasn’t headed away by his defenders. Pleasingly, it was the first time we saw a referee, Ben Wyatt, pull someone up for stealing yards on a throw, doing so twice and awarding Harriers the throw instead. He had an excellent game, it has to be said. Can we have you every week, please?

HT: 0 – 1

Alfreton emerged early from the break, no doubt with Billy Heath’s expletives still ringing in their ears but the Harriers nearly started even quicker this time; Caleb Richards finding himself in a bit of space from distance but firing over.

As we approached the hour mark the Harriers could’ve doubled their lead on two more occasions. A Joe Leesley corner was pinpoint, finding Alex Penny who saw his goalbound shot expertly saved by Willis before on the hour mark, then it was Connor Teale clearing a header off the line for a corner which created another Penny chance.

As we approached the final third of the game it’s fair to say the hosts frustrations grew as the nerves in the away end did. Will we regret those two pieces of last ditch defending? With Rhead growing more annoyed, and now on a yellow, we had to hope this wasn’t some kind of zero to hero script.

Ashley Hemmings could’ve sealed the deal on a breakaway now the hosts had to push men forward but instead of squaring it to his onrushing team mates he went alone and fired just past the far post.

Five minutes of injury time were signalled with Harriers repelling a final onslaught of aerial missiles but the blue wall stood firm before play was brought to an end amid scenes of jubilation in the away ends. A play off win. What’s that then?

For some, last night was made all the more sweeter given the events of last season at Aggborough as Harriers now move to seven consecutive wins. A tough assignment on Sunday sees us travel to Kings Lynn Town, who missed out on the title on the final day. It’s a position we know too well, and it’s never ended well for us – now we’ve got that play off monkey off our back, can we go and ruin their Sunday?

Talking of zero to hero scripts, it wasn’t Matt Rhead’s screenplay last night. Is this Russ Penn’s? The turnaround has been nothing short of miraculous, aided largely by the return of the irrepressible Joe Leesley over the last month or so.

Now, what was it Phil Collins once sung? “I can feel it… coming in the air tonight”. Oh Lord, indeed.

FT: 0 – 1

Goal for Harriers: Morgan-Smith 1

The Harriers Online MotM is: Christian Dibble

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here

Alfreton Town	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Willis
Clackstone
Salam
Cantrill
Smith
Wiley
Teale
Lund
Rhead
Ceesay
Hobson
Subs:
Askew
Branson
Thewlis
Southwell
Denton
Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Dibble
Foulkes
Richards
Penny
Pearce
Morrison
Leesley
Brown
Morgan-Smith
Hemmings
Byrne
Subs:
Palmer
Knight-Percival
Bearne
Lissimore
Hall
Referee:
Mr Ben Wyatt
Manchester