Match report Vs York CityVenue: AggboroughDate: 22-02-20Att: 1574 (away fans: 281)

22-02-20 - Report - Kidderminster Harriers 0 York City 1

York strike lucky

Report: Harriershane

The Harriers faced second placed side York City today as the Minstermen sought to return to the top of the league, albeit temporarily, following the postponement of Kings Lynn’s game at Altrincham. The title is still in the Linnets hands however as they have three games in hand on York.

On Friday Alex Penny was brought in by the Harriers from Boston United and immediately claimed possession of the number two shirt, with Sam Austin continuing at left back. For York, a veritable who’s who of non league football took to the field; messrs Steve McNulty, Adriano Moké and Dan Maguire being just three of an impressive squad built by Steve Watson from the middle of last season when he was appointed.

The game itself started out as a cagey affair with York looking to create some openings whilst the Harriers defended well and grew into the half. There were fifteen minutes on the clock when the hosts saw their first effort of note, Penny teeing up Alex Prosser to shoot wide. Minutes later York’s Kurt Willoughby beat two men, and slipped in Maguire, but Sam Austin recovered well to deny the former Blyth Spartans man a decent effort at Will Mannion’s goal.

The Harriers then had a flurry of chances which nearly led to something more. An Ollie Shenton cross was blocked for a corner which appeared to have been over hit. It was kept alive by Keith Lowe, formerly of York of course, who lifted it into the area towards Milan Butterfield at the back post who couldn’t divert his header on target. Shortly after Austin was able to cut inside and send an effort goalwards for Peter Jameson to punch away, with Penny’s return ball defended well.

The final chance of the half fell to Ashley Chambers, also formerly of York, but his effort was scooped well over the bar as he looked for his first goal since February 1st.

HT: 0 – 0

The general consensus was that the first half performance was a good one. Ironically there was but seconds on the clock when the deadlock was broken, and ultimately, the game won. Perhaps more frustratingly for Harriers was that it was a mistake rather than a moment of quality that decided it.

Debutant Penny looked to head it back towards Mannion but it was intercepted by Maguire who rounded the keeper and duly rolled the ball home. Following the goal the Harriers were able to dominate the possession as York appeared keen to settle for the 1 – 0 and the discourse of “these are the types of games that make you champions”.

Jameson was equal to a long range Ashley Hemmings effort in the fifty second minute as the York defence were marshalling the game effectively and restricting Harriers to those efforts from range. The visitors could’ve doubled their lead through sub Jordan Burrow, but his header dropped wide.

Chambers then glanced a header wide from a teasing Austin ball with twenty to go before Butterfield was a matter of inches from levelling the game with a thirty yard thunderbolt. Penny slashed an effort wide as we entered the final ten minutes and Jameson once more denied Hemmings as it became obvious that time, and York, would beat the Harriers.

Make no mistake, York will know they have been in a game, even if Harriers did not overly threaten offensively as picked up post match by Russ Penn. The new signing also looks good and it is a shame that his copybook was blotted by his mistake but Penny does look like he possesses plenty of endeavour at both ends of the pitch and there will be more to come. I’m sure of that.

FT: 0 – 1


Goal for York City: Maguire 46


The Harriers Online MotM is: Cliff Moyo

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here


HarriersGoalsSubsTimeCards
Mannion    
Penny    
Austin    
R Williams 65 
Moyo    
Lowe    
Prosser    
Butterfield    
Chambers 80 
Hemmings    
Shenton 62 
 
Subs: 
Palmer    
Johnson 65 
E Williams 62 
Samuels 80 
Freemantle    
 
York CityGoalsSubsTimeCards
Jameson    
Bond    
Ferguson    
Newton    
McNulty    
Tait    
Moké    
McLaughlin 40 
Maguire62 
Green   
Willoughby 78 
 
Subs: 
Kempster 78 
Griffiths 40 
Burrow 62 
York    
King    
     
Referee: 
Mr Richard Holmes
Preston