07-08-18 – Report – Harriers 0 AFC Telford Utd 0

Disappointing Harriers grind out a scoreless draw

Report: Harriershane

In the first game at Aggborough of the new season, Harriers and Telford played out a far from entertaining 0-0 draw.

The visitors lined up with four ex-Harriers in their eleven; namely Andre Brown, Amari Morgan-Smith, Darryl Knights and James McQuilkin. For Harriers, it was same again with Ashley Chambers passed fit following his half time withdrawal at Alfreton.

First half, Sam Austin has to be the pick of the bunch, consistently leaving two or three Telford players for dead and getting to the byline. Sadly for Sam, and the Harriers, the numerous openings he created could not be converted into any chances worthy of the name.

Telford’s first chance of note came through lax Harriers defending, with Fraser Horsfall giving the ball away to Knights, whose effort drifted wide. The last action of the half came from a Telford corner, which was knocked back into Andre Brown, who hooked over from close range.

HT: 0 – 0

Immediately after the restart Fraser Horsfall marauded forward in an attempt to replicate his Brackley goal, smacking the top of the North Stand in the process.

Harriers kept getting the ball out wide and putting crosses into the box, but visiting keeper Max Bramley was confident and assured throughout. Just shy of the hour mark, Ashley Chambers spotted the keeper off his line but the shot was drifting wide. From fully fifty yards it was worth an effort and, to that point, was the first real shot on goal from the home side.

As the second half rolled on the frustrating deficiencies of last season were back. With Telford content for a point, the onus was on the Harriers to break them down. Alas, the home side fell short.

The best chance of the game was the last chance of the game and it very nearly yielded a winner. A set piece was half cleared out to the Harriers Online sponsored James Baxendale, who struck an effort which was deflected onto the post. It looked for all the world it was going in but the rogue foot in the melee of the box poking it onto the post was the final slice of luck Telford needed, with the ricochet evading Jimmy O’Connor.

For Harriers it’s newly promoted Ashton United at home on Saturday. They played out an entertaining 3-4 victory away at FC United of Manchester last night, although whether such an attacking outlook from Ashton will be on display Saturday is questionable.

FT: 0 – 0

The Harriers Online MotM is: Sam Austin

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here

Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Hall
Vaughan
Austin
O’Connor
Horsfall
Johnson
Weeks
Daniels			60
Ironside
Chambers			62
Bradley			86
Subs:
Williams			60
Taylor
Baxendale			86
Richards			62
Digie
AFC Telford Utd	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Bramley
Sears
White
Deeney
Sutton
Streete
Cowans			65
McQuilkin
Morgan-Smith
Brown			67
Knights			75
Subs:
Martinez
Lilly
Royle			65
Dawson			75
Udoh			67
Referee:
Mr Alex Kirkley
Manchester