Venue: Aggborough Date: 26-08-24 Harriers 4 Oxford City 0 Att: 2546 (away fans: 42) |
Harriers are back to winning ways
Report: Phil Lench
The Harriers quickly got back to winning ways against Oxford City following the defeat away at Warrington Town two days ago. And what a way to do so too.
Taking a 3-0 lead into the break was what all the fans wanted to see after such a good start to the season and that’s just what we got. A second goal running for Ben Beresford was the start, a third goal for Maz Kouhyar on the stroke of halftime was sandwiched by Ashley Hemmings third goal of the season. The best was saved for the second half though with a superb free kick from Seb Thompson that absolutely flew home.
The only downside to the game was that we didn’t go for the jugular once City went down to ten men after the former Harriers loanee Cole Kpekawa found himself sent off at Aggborough for the second time. He was also sent off here when we played his former club Bromley back in August last season.
The game got underway in a scrappy fashion with both sides testing each other out. First blood came the Harriers way when Alex Penny tested the keeper, Kai McKenzie-Lyle, from a corner but the keeper collected easily. Oxfords first, and only, chance of the game came from Andre Burley with a shot that got blocked out as soon as it had entered the area.
The first goal followed soon after. We’d just seen a Hemmings effort tipped over the bar for a corner and when we earned another corner a few minutes later the ball was played to the back post as keeper and defender collided as it was nodded on by Paul Downing to Beresford waiting in front of the empty net. He didn’t waste the chance.
Minutes later and the lead was doubled after Maz Kouhyar crossed for Hemmings to send home a well-placed header twelve yards from goal.
By this time City had begun to crumble and we began to take full advantage but first we had to overcome a setback when Beresford went down with what looked like a hamstring pull. He was removed from the field of play as a precaution and was replaced by Seb Thompson.
Maliq Cadogan still awaits his first goal for us and that almost came when his powerful shot whizzed past the post then soon after Kouhyar sent in a teasing cross to him and that shot got blocked while the next cross in from Magic Maz saw the Swansea City loanee send his shot wide.
Heading for the break we added a further goal when the City keeper made a total mess of an easy collection and allowed Kouhyar to rob him of the ball and slot the ball home under him.
HT: 3 – 0
The second half wasn’t very old when Seb Thompson, clean through on goal, was unceremoniously brought down by Cole Kpekawa. The referee had no hesitation in taking the red card from his pocket followed by a yellow brandished towards Reece Fleet for protesting about it too vigorously. The free kick was taken by Luke Summerfield that McKenzie-Lyle kept out but only as far as Zak Brown who somehow, instead of side footing the ball home, decided to put his foot through it and it went over the stand.
We all thought the lads would then go on to turn the screw and really punish City but we didn’t and that’s probably the most disappointing aspect when, come the end of the season, these goals will play a big part in the final placings.
A flurry of substitutions followed quickly for both sides. So quickly it was hard to keep up with the changes. The usual two of David Davis and Reiss McNally came on first but by the end of the phase all five had been sent on by Phil Brown for the first time since the rule had been changed.
It was four minutes before the end of the game that the special free kick arrived. A routine situation was awarded and, with no recognised taker on the pitch, Cadogan and Thompson lined up to take it. Seb won the argument and suddenly, from no where, power rushed to his foot as he hit the ball over the wall and into the back of the net. The keeper stood no chance and, comically, fell backwards onto the ground.
The last chance of the game fell to Cadogan, and he’s still waiting for his first goal in Harriers colours, as he saw his ferocious shot hit the foot of the post once again. That must be at least ten goals he could have scored so far this season if luck had been on his side.
We now face a top of the table clash at Scunthorpe Utd next Friday evening. It looks like we may be in for a cracker.
FT: 4 – 0
Goals for Harriers: Beresford 22, Hemmings 27, Kouhyar 45+1, Thompson 85
The Harriers Online MotM is: Alex Penny
Talk about the game here
Latest table and stats here
Harriers | Goals | Subs | Time | Cards |
Dibble | ||||
Foulkes | ||||
Richards | ||||
Penny | ||||
Downing | ![]() |
61 | ||
Brown | ||||
Kouhyar | ![]() |
![]() |
70 | |
Summerfield | ![]() |
63 | ||
Beresford | ![]() |
![]() |
38 | |
Hemmings | ![]() |
![]() |
73 | |
Cadogan | ||||
Subs: | ||||
Devine | ![]() |
70 | ||
McNally | ![]() |
61 | ||
Thompson | ![]() |
![]() |
38 | |
Obadeyi | ![]() |
73 | ||
Davis | ![]() |
63 | ||
Oxford City | Goals | Subs | Time | Cards |
McKenzie-Lyle | ||||
Burley | ![]() |
76 | ||
Elliot-Wheeler | ![]() |
60 | ||
Ashby | ||||
Jones | ||||
Kpekawa | ![]() |
|||
Coyle | ![]() |
|||
Fleet | ![]() |
64 | ![]() |
|
Parker | ![]() |
53 | ||
McEachran | ![]() |
56 | ||
Roddy | ||||
Subs: | ||||
Andrews | ![]() |
53 | ||
Stretton | ![]() |
76 | ||
Siddik | ![]() |
64 | ![]() |
|
Carbon | ![]() |
60 | ||
Potter | ![]() |
56 | ||
Referee: | ||||
Mr Callum Jones | ||||
Widnes |