13-08-22. Match report Vs Leamington FC

Harriers frustrated by resolute Leamington side

Report: Dan Harper

The Harriers were left wondering what could have been as a resolute defensive display from the away side, Leamington FC,  as well as a penalty save left the home side succumbing to a share of the spoils in an Aggborough scorcher.

The Reds stormed out of the blocks from the start as Ashley Hemmings saw a low drive parried away in the first minute by opposition ‘keeper Callum Hawkins. after that he would go on to deny Joe Foulkes and Yusifu Ceesay in quick succession, evidently he was becoming the man of the moment during the first half. As the clock ticked past the twenty minute mark a fast counter from the home side, which included yet again more involvement from Ceesay, the Harriers were presented with their golden chance as the on loan Burton Albion  keeper hacked down Ceesay for a penalty.

Ashley Hemmings, a man normally faultless from the spot, stepped up however it wasn’t to be this time as he saw his effort parried away by the Leamington ‘keeper.

Just six minutes later the home side would be denied once again, this time by the woodwork, as the ball was pulled back to Tom Owen-Evans whose effort clipped the wrong side of the post. With the unbearable heat combined it’s not too far-fetched to say frustrations were starting to reach boiling point.

HT: 0 – 0

Leamington were the side to start the second half the better of the two sides including a forty eighth minute corner routine that forced Tom Palmer to tip over a Dan Turner header from close range. That was arguably their best chance of the game.

The Harriers started piling on the pressure as the second half started to grow older and a lot of joy came from the left flank through Ceesay in particular. Tom Owen-Evans once again saw a great chance fall to his feet, like it did in the first half, after being played in from the angle but he dragged his shot just wide of Hawkins’ post.

Following the introduction of Ethan Freemantle in the seventieth minute, replacing Zak Brown, he soon got into the thick of the action with an effort on the seventy seventh minute being most of note as he turned superbly in the area and hit an effort low but just inches past the post – maybe even clipping it.

The Aggborough outfit fought relentlessly in the scorching heat and their last chance of note came as the game started to fizzle out in the ninetieth minute when a Ceesay run and pull back across goal was only dragged wide.

Harriers play host to Curzon Ashton in the next instalment of the National League North this Tuesday 16th August as they look to make it four points out of six from the first two opening home games of the 2022/23 campaign.

FT: 0 – 0

The Harriers Online MotM is: Shane Byrne

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here

Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Palmer
Foulkes
Richards
Knight-Percival
Pearce
Byrne
Owen-Evans			80
Lowe
Brown			70
Hemmings
Ceesay
Subs:
Leak
Martin
Margetson
Freemantle			70
Rogers			80
Leamington FC	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Hawkins
English
Meredith
Maye			74
Mace
Lane
Usher-Shipway			70
Walker
Turner
Edwards
Kelly-Evans
Subs:
Prosser			70
Cook			74
Taylor
Hall
Day
Referee:
Mr Craig Scriven
Wells