Match report Vs Chorley FCVenue: AggboroughDate: 17-11-18Att: 2090 (away fans: 117) |
The Harriers shoot themselves in the foot again
Report: Harriershane
Today saw out of form Chorley visit Aggborough to take on the equally out of form Harriers, for whom Russell Penn made his second home debut. What was to follow was nothing short of ludicrously abysmal. Manager Neil MacFarlane surprised us by ditching his three/five at the back system, reverting to a 4-3-3 formation. Not that it mattered in the end.
Harriers came out of the blocks fairly well, causing Matt Urwin in the Chorley goal a couple of issues; Ashley Chambers, Jimmy O’Connor and Dan Bradley all having efforts saved. Joel Taylor was marauding forward and comfortably presented Harriers’ main threat but at the same time allowing Chorley space in behind.
Midway through the first half the deadlock was broken in highly controversial circumstances. A ball into the box by Adam Blakeman was headed into the air by a defender with goal scorer Josh Wilson standing in an offside position. Crucially the linesman seemed convinced that it had came off the head of Penn, therefore playing him onside and allowing him to finish with aplomb past Hall.
Irate were the fans with the Harriers back line and the manager certainly became irate after Lee Vaughan was unceremoniously kicked in the air in front of the linesman who was unable to bring himself to make a decision. This sparked a brawl in which Dan Bradley and Adam Blakeman got booked for their respective roles in the display of handbags.
Chorley sensed that Harriers were there for the taking and doubled their lead on the stroke of half time; Lee Vaughan clearing a Wilson effort off the line only for Declan Weeks to lose an aerial duel. The ball broke for Elliott Newby who bent the ball into the far corner from twenty yards out. A smart finish, although how Weeks found himself between two of Chorley’s big players and expecting to win a header has to be questioned.
HT: 0 – 2
The first action of note in the second half was when Marcus Carver cleaned out Brandon Hall quite some time after the ball had gone. A signal of intention that was from Chorley and once again Harriers were simply unable to deal with their physicality and percentage football.
The day proceeded to get progressively worse as Chambers failed to connect with a fizzed cross before the third Chorley goal went in. Weeks again was prominent, giving the ball away with what can only be termed as a hospital pass. Elliot Newby and Josh Wilson latched onto it and played a one-two past Hall for the former to tap in his second of the game.
With sixty six minutes played Andy Teague got the final touch in an almighty scramble to give the score an even more uncomfortable look. The second half effectively petered out with the visitors content with their afternoon’s work, whilst Harriers contrived to try and gift them a fifth.
No man of the match was announced and it was the same on here after the farce after Southport and so once more I’ll follow suit here. It goes without saying that the team were boo’d off. When was the last time the performance levels were so poor? The slide must stop, and soon.
FT: 0 – 4
Goals for Chorley: Wilson 26, 58, E Newby 47, Teague 66
The Harriers Online MotM is: Come on. You have to be joking. Again!
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Harriers | Goals | Subs | Time | Cards |
Hall | ||||
Vaughan | ||||
Taylor | 73 | |||
O’Connor | 65 | |||
Horsfall | ||||
Penn | ||||
Weeks | 64 | |||
Daniels | ||||
Bradley | ||||
Chambers | ||||
Williams | ||||
Subs: | ||||
Richards | 64 | |||
Johnson | 65 | |||
Baxendale | ||||
Austin | 73 | |||
Wagner | ||||
Chorley FC | Goals | Subs | Time | Cards |
Urwin | ||||
Challoner | ||||
Blakeman | ||||
Teague | ||||
Meppen-Walker | ||||
Jordan | ||||
Cottrell | ||||
O’Keefe | 84 | |||
Carver | ||||
Wilson | 74 | |||
E Newby | 71 | |||
Subs: | ||||
Almond | 74 | |||
A Newby | ||||
Glynn | 84 | |||
Whitham | 71 | |||
Anson | ||||
Referee: | ||||
Mr Samuel Barrott | ||||
West Riding |