09-02-19 – Report – Kidderminster Harriers 4 Chester FC 1

Mark Yates gets his second reign off to the best possible start

Report: Harriershane

The last time the Chester FC joint managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley were at Aggborough they presided over a Salford City comeback from 4-0 down to 4-4. Today, however, their team were put to the sword in what was Mark Yates’ return to the home dugout, leading to a bizarre post match interview from Johnson who consistently made reference to knowing what Harriers would do whilst calling his own team’s performance a “disgrace” on numerous occasions.

For the Harriers Milan Butterfield came in for his first start in midfield, with Sam Austin coming in at right back for the recently departed Lee Vaughan (to Solihull Moors). Ed Williams returned to the squad following his injury, taking a berth on the bench, whilst Joel Taylor was restored to his left back position following his loan spell at Halesowen.

Chester had a strikeforce once of this parish; Akwasi Asante and George Waring.

The Mark Yates Mk II era started positively with Harriers playing what could be termed “front foot football” as opposed to retaining possession for the sake of it – Joe Ironside testing Grant Shenton early on with an effort.

With twenty on the clock the Chester custodian came out of his box and misjudged a header about thirty yards from goal. Although Chester recovered the ball in that instance Harriers won it back straight away and fed Ironside, who looked to dink the keeper from range, but could only put the ball over the bar.

The Chester joint-boss Johnson claimed post match that “they knew what Kidderminster would do”, which would be putting them under more and more pressure as this time Nick Clayton-Phillips drove into Shenton’s arms.

Against the run of play Chester took the lead as Asante benefited from a ricochet which put him through before finishing coolly past the reach of Hall. In recent weeks, you could be forgiven for thinking “here we go again”, but a wonderful team move brought Harriers level immediately. Declan Weeks cushioned the ball down to Fraser Horsfall on the edge of the defensive box. Liam McAlinden scythed through the visitors and crossed for Chambers who headed down to Weeks on the edge of the box, who then cushioned a half volley into the top corner from inside the D.

In the first minute of injury time the turnaround was complete. McAlinden took responsibility for the corner floating a ball to the edge of the six yard box where Joe Ironside was lurking, beating Shenton to the ball and heading home.

HT: 2 – 1

The second half started as the first finished, with the Harriers in the ascendancy with Milan Butterfield excellent throughout breaking up the play to great effect. Great work from Clayton-Phillips saw the ball reach Butterfield but his effort flew wide. Chester’s threat was, frankly, non-existent, with Anthony Dudley the only Cestrian to try to test Hall, who was equal to his effort.

With twenty to go it was yet more fantastic work from McAlinden which led to the third goal and a first for the club for Ryan Johnson. The Cheltenham loanee once again got to the byeline and crossed in. Shenton managed to get a hand onto the cross and palmed it away but only into the path of Johnson who cushioned the ball into the back of the net to cap what was an impressive performance from the former Stevenage centre back.

Following the goal Clayton-Phillips was withdrawn with the returning Ed Williams taking his place. Chester had a rare foray forward when Steven Howson connected with a cross and beyond the reach of Hall, however Butterfield was there to head off the line.

Williams looked to be the Ed of old, jinking past defenders and getting shots away – a major positive. With six to play, Liam Truslove was brought out of the cold and made his first Harriers appearance for quite a while.

As the game was being played to a close Harriers notched again. Williams had been looking dangerous since coming on and he embarked on one of his trademark runs, leaving a pair of Chester defenders in his wake before unleashing a venomous drive past Shenton.

Harriers could’ve had five had it not been for the linesman’s flag; McAlinden once again the scourge of the visiting defence, this time it was Truslove who looked to benefit from his cross, albeit from what was an offside position so the strike was chalked off.

What a difference a fortnight makes! Mark Yates gets his second reign off to the best possible start, supported by a plethora of great performances. Ryan Johnson was excellent and deserved his goal and Liam McAlinden was awarded the sponsor’s man of the match as well as special praise in Yates’ post match interview, where it was revealed that discussions had taken place with parent club Cheltenham to secure his services for the remainder of the season.

Milan Butterfield was comfortably assured in the middle of the park with a performance belying his tender years, and given time and patience, looks to have the potential to be a very good player indeed.

Now can we do it all again at home to York City next Saturday?

FT: 4 – 1

Goals for Harriers: Weeks 41, Ironside 46, Johnson 70, Williams 86

Goal for Chester FC: Asante 36

The Harriers Online MotM is: Milan Butterfield

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here

Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Hall
Austin
Taylor
Weeks
Horsfall
Johnson
Clayton-Phillips			71
Butterfield
Ironside
Chambers			84
McAlinden			90
Subs:
Weaver
Williams			71
Higginson
Truslove			84
White			90
Chester FC	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Shenton
Thomson
Waters
Roberts
Livesey
Howson
Dudley
Burton
Asante			77
Waring			67
Mahon
Subs:
Smalley
Mooney			77
Murray
Brown
Marsh-Hughes			67
Referee:
Mr Ryan Atkin
London