Match report Vs Curzon AshtonVenue: Tameside StadiumDate: 25-08-18Att: 353 (away fans: 125)

25-08-18 - Report - Curzon Ashton 1 Kidderminster Harriers 1

Harriers labour to a penalty miss draw

Report: Harriershane

The Harriers 100% record playing at the Tameside Stadium came to an end today with a 1-1 draw that saw no end of drama in what was, for sure, an entertaining game for the neutrals whilst being an infuriating one for the band of over a hundred strong visiting supporters.

For Harriers it was same again on the pitch, with Academy prospect Harry Stratford replacing Liam Truslove on the bench. Harriers began the game with gusto as Joel Taylor ran riot down his flank, whilst Ashley Chambers, Ed Williams, Joe Ironside and ambitiously, Declan Weeks all saw efforts miss the target.

Twenty minutes in and the hosts won a penalty. James O’Connor was adjudged to have fouled Alex Hughes with the Harriers centre-back picking up a yellow card in the process. Ryan Brooke took the penalty and fired it midriff height to Brandon Hall’s right hand side with Hall pulling off a comfortable save to keep the score goalless. This signalled the beginning of a sloppy period of play with Curzon Ashton growing into the game.

A rare Harriers foray forward after the penalty saw the ball at the feet of Williams who jinked his way into the box before being fouled. Penalty Harriers! Joe Ironside stepped up in front of the travelling fans only to see his powerful strike strongly palmed away by Cameron Mason, diving to his right hand side.

With eight minutes to go the Nash broke the deadlock. Good play by the home side saw the ball put into the mixer by Ryan Brooke. Harriers looked to have cleared it not once, but twice, but eventually it was Brooke who somehow forced the ball over the line. Moments later the home side had appeals for another penalty waved away.

HT: 1 – 0

As both teams swapped ends so did the Harriers fans.

Home stopper Mason was called into action early on in the second stanza, saving well from a curling Chambers effort; Ed Williams also going close. The best chance of the opening fifteen minutes fell to Ryan Brooke who headed over from ten yards.

This second half saw the Harriers continuously pushing with the home side reduced to occasional sighters on the break. Lee Vaughan was being found time and time again, delivering the ball regularly but to no avail. Joe Ironside had a great chance from around fifteen yards out but he proceeded to launch it over the bar in what was his final action of a quiet game for the frontman; Kane Richards came on in his place.

Inside ten minutes of being on the pitch he once again made an impact picking the ball up in the centre circle before bisecting the Curzon backline, releasing Chambers. The Harriers summer signing from Nuneaton Town had so much time he was able to give the linesman a look to ensure he was onside, invite Mason off his line and stop still. A short game of cat and mouse saw Chambers opt to fire it into the bottom left hand corner, thankfully with success. 1-1.

Five minutes later there was an injury. To the referee. Luckily, a suitable replacement was found and the game continued with ten minutes of injury time to be added on later.

The stoppage didn’t effect Harriers too much with Vaughan again providing dangerous service before a third penalty of the day was awarded. Harriers’ second penalty was claimed by the sub Richards, who approached the ball nonchalantly and was made to pay when he missed the target, placing the ball a yard wide of the post.

If you thought that was it you could be forgiven. Harriers pressed forward again and in the dying embers of the game a goalmouth scramble saw Chambers hit the bar before Williams fired in an effort destined for the top corner only to be denied by the excellent Mason.

For the Harriers the unbeaten record remains intact, although the inability to convert draws into wins must remain a concern. Stockport County visit Aggborough on Bank Holiday Monday, fresh off a 1-0 home defeat to Alfreton.

FT: 1 – 1


Goal for Curzon Ashton: Brooke 37

Goal for Harriers: Chambers 73


The Harriers Online MotM is: Lee Vaughan

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here


Curzon AshtonGoalsSubsTimeCards
Mason    
Morton    
O’Leary    
Hunt    
Shaw    
Rowney   
Guest    
Marshall 68 
Brooke75 
Samizadah 65 
Hughes    
 
Subs: 
Cummins 65 
Crankshaw    
Ali 75 
Fawns    
Deakin 68 
 
HarriersGoalsSubsTimeCards
Hall    
Taylor    
Vaughan   
Horsfall    
O’Connor   
Johnson    
Weeks    
Daniels    
Ironside 65 
Chambers  
Williams    
 
Subs: 
Richards 65 
Stratford    
Baxendale    
Austin    
Digie    
     
Referee: 
Mr Andrew Sykes
Lytham St Annes