16-03-19 – Report – Kidderminster Harriers 2 Spennymoor Town 1

The Harriers get a win at windswept Aggborough

Report: Harriershane

The Harriers claimed their maiden victory over Spennymoor Town today at a windswept Aggborough in conditions that, pre-match, one expected to favour the visitors.

Following the disastrous display at Chorley last week, manager Mark Yates raided former side Solihull Moors for the temporary services of centre back Harry Flowers, who started in place of Fraser Horsfall today, and forward Kwame Thomas, who made a cameo performance late on. Former Harrier Adam Boyes started on the bench for Spennymoor whilst goalkeeper Matthew Gould – grandson of Bobby Gould – used to ply his trade down the road at Stourbridge.

The conditions were not ideal to say the least as it became apparent quite quickly that this could be a low quality affair with the wind playing a starring role. Harriers, kicking with the wind for the opening stanza, appeared to be the side to settle and adapt to the conditions quicker than the visitors, forcing numerous corners and half chances in the opening quarter of an hour.

A rare Spennymoor foray forward as we approached the halfway point of the half led to the first goal of the game. Ryan Johnson gamely battled to win possession back on the edge of his own box and, despite protestations of a high boot, was allowed to play on. The stand in skipper fed Liam McAlinden who drove at the Moors backline before slipping Ashley Chambers in to finish on the angle at Gould’s near post – a fine counter attacking goal.

If at all possible, the wind seemed to pick up even more, with Gould’s kicks unable to cross the halfway line. Just after the half hour mark, it should’ve been two but for an outstanding Gould save.

McAlinden’s cross from the right found Ironside who cushioned his header down for Chambers who struck a vicious effort goalwards, only to be thwarted by a palm thrown out above his head by the Moors custodian. A fine effort, denied by a fine save.

HT: 1 – 0

The second half saw no relenting from the elements, who decided to throw driving rain into the mix on this day of mischief.

Blown along by a favourable wind Spennymoor decided it would be their turn to drive forward and put the Harriers under the cosh. After just four minutes the scores were level, although the build up was fortuitous to say the least. Whipped in from deep, debutant Harry Flowers managed to get his head to it, but could only head it ferociously goalwards, forcing Brandon Hall into an impressive stop. The ball was put back into the box by Shaun Tuton for Glen Taylor who nodded home for his twenty seventh goal of the season.

The visitors were on level terms for all of 12 seconds. Yes, TWELVE seconds. Harriers hit back immediately and it was that man again, Ashley Chambers, who notched his fifth goal in two home games. The ball was knocked forward from kick off by Milan Butterfield, finding McAlinden out wide. His ball into the box was not dealt with by veteran defender Jamie Curtis who missed his kick and allowed Chambers to sweep the ball home with aplomb, much to the delight of all of a Harriers persuasion.

Looking to hit back quickly the Moors goalscorer Taylor sent two efforts off target in quick succession before a ricochet off Joe Ironside nearly made it 3-1 to Harriers; the striker getting in the way of what appeared to be a sweetly struck, but wayward, volley from Ed Williams. Fortunately for Gould he had stayed put and claimed well.

Moors continued to push and go close with Tuton forcing a save from Hall from the edge of the area before the former Gateshead midfielder Jamie Chandler’s long range effort almost snuck under the bar via a deflection from a Harriers defender.

The game’s first flashpoint came with eighty five minutes played as a ball spurted out into space. Scott Harrison, already on a booking slid in, as did Billy Daniels for Harriers. Neither man touched the ball and play continued but Harrison, riled up, objected to Daniels contesting the ball and proceeded to grab the midfielder by the throat. Bemusingly the referee neglected to send him off, no doubt in part to Daniels’ lack of reaction, which is to the Harriers man’s credit.

The Harriers continued to put their bodies on the line and defend resolutely but that resolve was being continually tested; Adam Boyes connecting with a Ryan Hall cross the latest in a succession of balls put into the box with the hope that one would go in. One did go in as we went into injury time. Stephen Brogan launched another weapon towards the Harriers goal and it landed up at the back post where goalscorer Taylor climbed all over and above Ryan Johnson to head past Brandon Hall.

Thankfully for Harriers, the referee spotted the infringement and disallowed the strike, much to the chagrin of Spennymoor’s players and staff.

At full time, manager Jason Ainsley was vociferous in his remonstrations with the match officials and could find himself in some bother with the authorities, as does midfielder Rob Ramshaw, who saw a post-match red for his role in the post match discussions.

For the visitors their title challenge is surely now over, as they sit ten points shy of leaders Chorley, albeit with two games in hand whilst Harriers close the gap on FA Trophy semi-finalists AFC Telford who occupy the final play off position, to one point. With Harriers sitting eighth on fifty three points next week’s trip to Brackley (fourth, fifty seven points, having played two games less) and the trip to Altrincham (sixth, fifty six, played one game less) the week after take on significant importance as the race for the play offs heads towards its conclusion.

Positive results from both of them will see confidence high for the visit of Bradford Park Avenue (fifth, fifty seven, two games less) as Mark Yates looks to have a shot at returning to the National League Premier. Can it be done? Of course it can. Will it be done? Who knows?

FT: 2 – 1

Goals for Harriers: Chambers 20, 50

The Harriers Online MotM is: Ashley Chambers

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here

Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
B Hall
Austin			78
J Taylor
Butterfield			93
Flowers
Johnson
McAlinden
Daniels
Ironside			78
Chambers
E Williams
Subs:
Palmer
Horsfall			78
Penn			93
Thomas			78
Richards
Spennymoor Town	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Gould
K Williams
Brogan
Chandler
Harrison
Curtis
Anderson			66
Henry			70
G Taylor
Ramshaw
Tuton			80
Subs:
Elliott
Thackray
R Hall			80
Hibbs			70
Boyes			66
Referee:
Mr Benjamin Speedie
Liverpool