Match report Vs AFC Telford UtdVenue: Bucks HeadDate: 06-08-19Att: 1557 (away fans: 371)

06-08-19 - Report - AFC Telford Utd 2 Kidderminster Harriers 0

Powderpuff Harriers flop against Telford

Report: Harriershane

Harriers made the short journey to the New Bucks Head and named an unchanged side against an AFC Telford team coming off the back of a somewhat surprising defeat on the opening day against Kettering.

Three former Harriers were named on the teamsheet with James McQuilkin and Darryl Knights starting – Andre Brown only suitable for the bench.

The evening’s proceedings got underway with Harriers winning an early corner which was headed over by captain Cliff Moyo. Telford’s first attempt came through a McQuilkin effort from range that was skewed wide.

As the halfway point of the half approached, the home side began to look more comfortable and controlled possession, going close a few times through Aaron Williams and Adam Walker, punctuated only by an Ed Williams shot that was straight at goalkeeper Corey Addai.

Before long it was 1-0 to Telford and it came from a Harriers corner. McQuilkin beat Alex Prosser to the ball to launch a counter attack which Sam Austin tried to defend but the former Stourbridge man Chris Lait was alert and pulled the ball back from the bye-line into the general vicinity of the area. It was partially cleared and held up nicely for Darryl Knights to volley home on the run from the edge of the box.

A good finish and a deserved lead. Telford continued to control proceedings and as the half time whistle went, the 371 Harriers travelling support hoped that things would pick up.

HT: 1 – 0

No. They wouldn’t pick up.

Ashley Chambers had an early header loop over the bar but soon enough the accepted pattern of the game was quickly re-established. Shane Sutton went close for Telford whilst, for Harriers, substitute Richard Peniket lofted a header over the bar from a Declan Weeks corner.

With sixty six minutes played the lead was doubled and the game over.

Aaron Williams picked the ball up on the Telford left and twice it looked like he had lost it to Rhys Williams. Aaron continued to harangue Rhys and pressured the youngster into a mistake, dwelling on the ball long enough for the home striker to slide home and double their advantage. A stupendously frustrating goal if ever there was one.

The game then collapsed into acrimony with Telford trying their hardest to get Ashley Chambers sent off. First on the touchline Stephan Morley fell over as Chambers came alongside with the referee falling for the histrionics and then the keeper did the same as Chambers stood in front of him while he took a goalkick. He just flopped to the ground holding his head even though no contact had been made.

For a few seconds it looked like Chambers was going to get a second yellow but thankfully the ref somehow saw sense and waved him away with a lecture. 

It was a bad end to a bad game and unless we get some real strength in soon we’re going to be struggling. A bench of academy kids is not the answer as shown when Knory Scott came on at the same time as the second goal went in. Knocked off the ball too easily and was a fish out of water. Not the way to bring kids on.

The pairing of Chambers and Ed Williams doesn’t work either and even when Richard Peniket came on and Ed dropped back into midfield it still didn’t work because Chambers was ploughing a lone furrow still.

Bradford PA this Saturday and on the back of two 5-0 defeats for them we should go up there and win easily. Shouldn’t we?

FT: 2 – 0


Goals for AFC Telford Utd: Knights 28, A Williams 66


The Harriers Online MotM is: Err. Not tonight folks!

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here


AFC Telford UtdGoalsSubsTimeCards
Addai    
White    
Morley 58 
Deeney    
Sutton   
Streete    
Lait    
Walker    
A Williams   
McQuilkin 73 
Knights   
 
Subs: 
Thorme 58 
Royle    
Cowans    
Dinanga 73 
Brown    
 
HarriersGoalsSubsTimeCards
Gregory    
Austin    
Davidson 66 
R Williams    
Moyo   
Johnson    
Weeks    
Butterfield    
Chambers   
E Williams    
Prosser 54 
 
Subs: 
Palmer    
Peniket 54 
Higginson    
Scott 66 
D Lowth    
     
Referee: 
Mr Sam Mulhall
Cheshire