17-08-24. Kidderminster Harriers 3 Radcliffe FC 0. Match report

The floodgates opened as Harriers run riot

Report: Phil Lench

A five minute spell of scoring put paid the leagues new boys, Radcliffe FC’s, hopes as the floodgates opened following Zak Browns first goal of the season, then two minutes later Max Kouhyars’ second goal of the campaign to be finished off by Ashley Hemmings with his first goal of the season. We were hoping for more but the team seemed satisfied with that and controlled the remainder of the game with just a brief response late on that forced Christian Dibble into action for the first time in the game.

In our first home game of the season back at Aggborough the game got underway with both sides testing each other out. The first incident of the game thirteen minutes in wasn’t the one we wanted as Amari Morgan-Smith went down in a collision and remained lifeless on the ground for some time. Medics from both sides and St Johns swarmed onto the pitch to tend to him but it all turned out ok but AMS was told to end his game right there and that didn’t go down too well but it was the correct one.

Ben Beresford came on for his debut and coped ok, if a little rusty and nervous. Meanwhile Radcliffe went on the rampage but not in a footballing sense – more in a wrestling sense as they resorted to leaving a heel in, smackdowns and Half Nelsons. Their management team of Anthony Johnson & Bernard Morley got in on the act too by interfering from the touchline and one of them got booked for their antics.

On with the football and our first chance came from the impressive Maliq Cadogan when his powerhouse of a shot went just wide of the post. The second chance came soon after with a rising shot from Zak Brown and then the half came to a conclusion with another amazing shot from Cadogan that slammed against the post and back into play while a minute later Hemmings saw his shot tipped over the bar by Mateusz Hewelt and Beresfords header on the turn forced another good save.

HT: 0 – 0

The second half was when the real fun started. Radcliffe came out with a bit of intention but that soon fell be the wayside as the blitzkrieg got under way. Rick Smith fired one high over the bar and then we took over complete control as Brown won the ball in the middle of the park and took it forward and fired home on the angle.

Next up was Kouhyar who received the ball from Brown then lifted the ball over Hewelts head but that wasn’t too hard seeing as he was on the small side. Next it was Ashleys turn to shine and he took the ball round the keeper and into the net to send the Harriers fans into raptures of the highest order.

Hemmings could have grabbed his second goal soon after but the keeper, once again, kept his side in the game by a very slender thread. Again Hemmo came close late on but his shot went wide.

With time running out we stopped going on the offensive and went to the defensive and almost paid the price. In injury time Christian Dibble was called into action twice when turned aside Luca Navarro’s shot before diving low to his left to stop Anthony Dudleys strong shot going home.

All in all it had been a brilliant game and one that we rarely saw before the arrival of Phil Brown towards the end of last season. It was an accomplished all round performance from the team and one that bodes well for this season. It’s hard to see many teams getting the better of us and that is what all of us want. Brackley Town on Tuesday and more of the same please.

FT: 3 – 0

Goals for Harriers: Brown 52, Kouhyar 54, Hemmings 57

The Harriers Online MotM is: Zak Brown

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here

Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Dibble
Foulkes
Richard
Penny
Downing
Summerfield			71
Kouhyar
Brown
Morgan-Smith			13
Hemmings			83
Cadogan
Subs:
Palmer
McNally
S Thompson			83
Beresford			13
Davis			71
Radcliffe FC	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Hewelt
Jackson			73
Duxberry
Smith
Roscoe
Wardle
Hancock
Walker			74
Hulme			80
Sargent
Oyibo			80
Subs:
Dudley			74
Navarro			80
Campbell			80
Morgan
J Thompson			73
Referee:
Mr Harry Jones
Belper