Match report Vs Blyth SpartansVenue: AggboroughDate: 08-09-18Att: 1570 (away fans: 27)

08-09-18 - Report - Kidderminster Harriers 3 Blyth Spartans 1

Harriers see off the threat of the Spartans

Report: Harriershane

Harriers made it 9 points from 9 on Saturday, dispatching Blyth Spartans with a comfortable 3-1 victory at Aggborough, in the shadow of the new scoreboard.

Neil McFarlane was forced into a change to his starting lineup; Ryan Johnson was absent on international duty with the Northern Ireland Under 21s, duly allowing Kennedy Digie to take his place in the back line. The opening twenty minutes saw both sides trade potential openings. Declan Weeks, Ashley Chambers and Joe Ironside providing the sighters for Harriers, whilst Dan Maguire did the same for the visitors.

It was the visitors who should have struck first as well; a ball into the box not dealt with by Harriers that Nathan Buddle could only head onto the bar. The warning shot had been fired and Harriers certainly paid heed to it. Chambers created a golden opportunity inside the box which he dragged wide before Billy Daniels was denied by an inspired block by visiting goalkeeper Peter Jameson.

Much has been made of Ed Williams’ goal from the last home game and rightly so. So much so in fact, that Declan Weeks tried to imitate it, sadly dragging wide of the post. Harriers weren’t to be denied for too much longer however as Chambers broke the deadlock with an exceptionally controlled cushioned volley after the ball had spiralled into the air; the striker showing his composure by watching the ball onto his foot for what seemed an age before wheeling off in celebration.

Shortly after, it was 2-0. Chambers and Joe Ironside linked up well and played the ball into the marauding Fraser Horsfall who finished with aplomb.

HT: 2 – 0

Blyth manager Alun Armstrong sent his team out early for the second half and with his team putting in some meaty challenges, the 1570 in attendance gained an insight as to what must have been said with the visitors beginning to make some cynical tackles. It was a legitimate tackle, however, that offered the Spartans a route back into the game.

Joel Taylor was caught in position, trying to shepherd the ball out for a goalkick, by Jarrett Rivers who squared from the byline only for Horsfall to turn into his own net under pressure. Harriers were then denied a stonewall penalty by the referee much to the anger and amazement of all people Harriers. The dangerous Chambers checked inside his man, who took him down rather industrially. The linesman on the far side flagged straight away, only to be overruled by his superior. What he saw we will never know.

Following the perceived injustice was a period of Blyth pressure with the next goal being crucial. Luckily it fell the way of Harriers.

Lee Vaughan’s industry down the right hand side played in Ed Williams and the in-form midfielder topped an all action display with a well struck effort into the bottom corner. The final action came in the final minute as Blyth almost got a consolation in the same way they scored their solitary goal. Rivers, again, with good work getting to the byline however this time Horsfall managed to clear off the line.

With Telford being defeated today the Harriers become only one of two teams in the National League North to have their unbeaten record still intact yet, thanks to the exploits of Jamie Vermiglio’s Chorley, it seems that our own exploits so far are flying under the radar.

Not a bad place to be.

FT: 3 – 1


Goals for Harriers: Chambers 37, Horsfall 42, Williams 69

Goal for Blyth Spartans: Horsfall (og) 57


The Harriers Online MotM is: Ed Williams

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HarriersGoalsSubsTimeCards
Hall    
Vaughan   
Taylor    
Horsfall (og)   
O’Connor    
Digie    
Weeks    
Daniels    
Ironside 71 
Chambers81 
Williams79 
 
Subs: 
Richards 81
Bradley 71 
Baxendale 79 
Austin    
Wagner    
 
Blyth SpartansGoalsSubsTimeCards
Jameson    
Nicholson    
Liddle   
Oliver   
Buddle    
Cunningham    
Rivers    
Horner 76 
Maguire    
Reid   
Dale    
 
Subs: 
Skirpan    
Wrightson 76 
Watson    
Pybus    
Mullen    
     
Referee: 
Mr Matthew Corlett
Liverpool