| Date: 10-07-19Harriers cruise through their first friendlyReport: Phil Lench |
The Harriers came through their first friendly test with comparative ease this evening when they took on an Aston Villa side made up of purely U23 squad players.
Two first half goals from Harriers ‘old timers’ Ashley Chambers and Ed Williams gave us a 2-1 lead going into the break with a third goal added midway through the second half by one of our academy youngsters Knory Scott.
With only seven familiar faces in the starting eleven it was a chance to see for the first time two of our new signings, Cliff Moyo and Alex Prosser. The rest of the number was made up with a trialist keeper and a trialist defender. Our other new signing, Richard Peniket, was out with a slight knock as was keeper Tom Palmer. Of the substitutes only Harry Higginson was a recognised first team player.
The opening goal came in the thirteenth minute when Trialist B played the ball in to Chambers on the edge of the area. His strike was calmly sent in past the Villa keeper Viljami Sinisalo.
In the thirty third minute an early change was made when Prosser was taken off to be replaced by Scott. Probably he’d picked up a slight knock and it was deemed wise not to risk him. Three minutes later and we had gone two up when when Ed Williams took aim from the edge of the area to send a curving ball beyond the grasp of Sinisalo.
Two minutes from the break the Villa pulled a goal back through Rushian Hepburn-Murphy.
The second period was dictated by numerous substitutions from both sides with the main ones for us Higginson coming on for Ryan Johnson and Jaiden White for Milan Butterfield. Our third goal came soon after that when Knory Scott fired against the foot of the post but it was played back to him by the U19’s defender Dutton and then he made no mistake diverting the ball home.
Six minutes of extra time was played out due to an injury to a Villa player but, all told, it was a comfortable win for the Harriers in front of a crowd of 1527 (325 from the Villa). We face a tougher task at home to Bristol Rovers on Saturday and they’ve promised to send their first team.
Line up: Trialist A, Austin, Trialist B, O’Connor, Moyo, Johnson, Butterfield, Weeks, Chambers, Williams, Prosser.
Subs: White, Trialist C, Higginson, Taylor-Randle, Fuller, Scott, D. Lowth, Trialist D, Hall, S. Lowth, Stratford, Fenlon, Brooks, Dutton.