10-08-24. Darlington FC 1 Kidderminster Harriers 2. Match report

Harriers get their first aMAZing win of the season

Report: Phil Lench

The Harriers got their season off to a great start with three well earned points at Darlington FC thanks to a match winning performance from the amazing ‘MAZ’ Kouhyar. His cross for Amari Morgan-Smiths opening goal was class in itself and then followed up with a just as classy goal of his own towards the end of the game sealed the points for the Reds.

The Quakers responded late on with a well taken Will Hatfield freekick to inspire them to a mini rally but it was all too late for them.

On a best we could hope for summers day it was a more or less first team that were named on the team sheet for the Harriers. Only Reece Devine was missing for some reason while Tom Palmer was on there possibly to fill the bench. A bench that this season will contain five names and all can be used.

The start of the game was scrappy for both sides and took some time to get going. All there was to show for it was a Cedric Main shot for the hosts that Christian Dibble saved easily enough even if he did look suspect in his claiming and retention of the ball. That was to appear in a heartstopping moment came when the ball was played into our area and Dibble dropped the ball to start an almighty scrambled for the outcome. The ball must have been hacked off the line a couple of times until it was eventually cleared away.

Then came the first piece of Maz magic. A Luke Summerfield forward cross found Kouhyar all by himself as he collected the ball, fended off the attentions of Cameron Salkeld, and crossed it pinpoint onto the head of AMS at the back post. Amari soared the highest and the ball looped over Peter Jamesons hands into the back of the net.

Darlo came back with a chance to score for Jack Maskell but his header was parried away by Dibble and then Caleb Richards combined with Kouhyar for the latter to cross the ball over to Zak Brown but his shot was poor and he skied it over the bar.

In the dying moments of the half Main chased a ball into the area and collided with the back of Dibble. Dibble stuck out a foot to try to clear it and Main fell over his outstretched leg with the Darlington fans calling for a penalty. Rightfully it got turned down due to the ball going away from goal and, more obviously, Main being at fault anyway. 

HT: 0 – 1

The second half got underway with Darlington looking to get something from the game and we were on the back foot for long periods without ever really looking in danger of conceding. We were still well in control and looked a league above them.

It took ten minutes before anything of note happened. That came when Joe Foulkes crossed for Maz but his shot was off target and over the bar. Darlington came back with a chance of their own when Kallum Griffiths played the ball in for Toby Lees but his lunge at the ball was too late and it was collected by Dibble.

With time entering the hour mark the substitutions began. Harriers first was the exchange of Maliq Cadogan for David Davis followed soon after by our second goal and this time Maz making up for his miss earlier on.

Again in a move started by Summerfield the ball was played to Ashley Hemmings who looked to cross it for AMS but he was offside (tell us something new) and left the ball for Kouhyar to swoop onto and take it towards Jameson then slot home for the obvious winner.

A second sub was made for us with Seb Thompson coming on for Hemmings and he almost scored with his first touch of the ball but his run into the area to chase a ball down ended with a shot that jameson just about managed to deflect for a corner.

The hosts then got their only goal of the game when a foul by Alex Penny on Hatfield handed them a free kick in a prime location. Hatfield elected to take it himself and the ball soared over our defensive line and into the corner of Dibbles goal. The keeper had no chance of stopping it and Hatfield continued his goalscoring campaign against us.  

The Quakers tried to grab an equalising goal but time was running out for them and we defended well enough to keep them at bay. Joe Foulkes got injured on the byeline with seconds to go and Reiss McNally came on to replace him and with his first action, to take a throw in, got booked by the, up till then, excellent referee for time wasting.

So the game ended with a first win of the season for the Harriers and now in our next game we’re at home to newcomers Radcliffe FC next Saturday. Three more points sounds fine to me.

FT: 1 – 2

Goal for Darlington: Hatfield 88

Goals for Harriers: Morgan-Smith 21, Kouhyar 81

The Harriers Online MotM is: Maz Kouhyar

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here

Darlington FC	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Jameson
Griffiths
Barrow
Hedley
Lees
Forbes			85
Hatfield
Salkeld			63
Rivers			68
Main
Maskell
Subs:
McGrath
Payne
Flint			85
Cornish			63
Nelson			68
Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Dibble
Foulkes			93
Richards
Penny
Downing
Brown
Kouhyar
Summerfield
Morgan-Smith
Hemmings			85
Cadogan			72
Subs:
Palmer
McNally			93
Thompson			85
Beresford
Davis			72
Referee:
Mr Darius Bradley
Bradford