21-12-19 – Report – Altrincham 1 Kidderminster Harriers 1

Ethan Freemantle shines in a weakened Harriers side

Report: Harriershane

The Harriers travelled to Altrincham looking to complete their first double of the season and follow up on their away success at Guiseley last time out.

Returning to Moss Lane was the former Alty man Ashley Hemmings, whilst Ed Williams, Richard Peniket and Declan Weeks all missed out through injury. This meant the bench was filled by Tom Palmer, Dennis Digie, Knory Scott, Ethan Freemantle and Brandon Diau.

The Harriers fired the first warning shot of the game when Ashley Chambers managed to find some space in behind the Robins’ back line but could only fire straight at Tony Thompson. Truthfully, the game was slow in catching fire with both teams trying to play forward but creating very little.

All that changed when Harriers took the lead with nineteen minutes played. A sweeping Harriers move saw possession retained and switched, left to right, where Sam Austin showed his marker a clean pair of heels. His clipped cross towards the penalty spot was perfect for an on rushing Milan Butterfield to head downwards and past the dive of Thompson to hand the visitors the lead.

The game soon settled into the rhythm established before the goal with Harriers having plenty of corners but unable to further test Thompson in the home goal.

As we approached the last ten minutes of the first half Altrincham began to come on strong with Tom Peers firing wide on a couple of occasions before Ethan Walker skied a curling effort from sixteen yards.

HT: 0 – 1

Ashley Chambers picked up a knock in the dying embers of the first half and it was ruled that he couldn’t continue. He was replaced by Ethan Freemantle. The youngster was in the thick of it immediately as he stretched to meet another Austin cross, although his header was well over.

Jake Moult and Hemmings exchanged efforts which never unduly troubled either goalkeeper as both sides struggled to gain a firm foothold in the half. Freemantle’s movement and desire was endearing himself to the Harriers contingent behind the goal, with the striker always offering an option to feet or looking in behind.

On the hour Altrincham were level but thankfully denied by the linesman’s flag. In fairness the whistle had already been blown but Peers finished well regardless.

With sixty six minutes on the clock the Harriers could, and really should, have doubled their lead.

A home corner was cleared with Freemantle giving chase. Gaining fully ten yards on his defender, he then proceeded to put in a picture perfect sliding challenge, emerging with the ball and having the vision and wherewithal to release a galloping Oliver Shenton. Sadly, the on loan Stoke man could only find Thompson’s legs as he tried to curl it low into the near post.

One felt that it could be a costly miss and so it proved. One of Altrincham’s many corners finally paid dividends as the dangerous ball across initiated a desperate scramble; Jake Moult managing to turn home from point blank range.

The Harriers began to push forward once more with Correy Davidson denied before having a penalty appeal turned down.

The home side also nearly won it as the strangely quiet Jordan Hulme fizzed a dangerous ball across goal. Begging for a touch, it thankfully avoided all contact and was smuggled to safety.

Before the game a point probably would have been taken by plenty of Harriers fans and it places us fourteenth in the league, ten points clear of the drop zone and eleven adrift of the play offs.

So it’s now on to the big double header against a struggling Hereford FC on Boxing Day (Aggborough) and Edgar Street (New Years Day). They haven’t won in thirteen games with a handful of draws in amongst them. Get some of those injured players back and we could get a result. 

FT: 1 – 1

Goal for Altrincham: Moult 73

Goal for Harriers: Butterfield 19

The Harriers Online MotM is: Ethan Freemantle

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here

Altrincham	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Thompson
Densmore
White
Jones
Hannigan
Moult
Walker			72
S Williams
Hulme
Hancock			80
Peers
Subs:
Harrop
Wall			72
Richman			80
Mullarkey
Hampson
Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Mannion
Austin
Davidson
R Williams
Moyo
Johnson
Prosser
Butterfield
Chambers			46
Hemmings
Shenton
Subs:
Palmer
Digie
Scott
Freemantle			46
Diau
Referee:
Mr Peter Shacklady
Southport