| Match report Vs SouthportVenue: AggboroughDate: 30-11-19Att: 1206 (away fans: 70) |
The new manager bounce didn’t work for the Harriers today
Report: Harriershane
Following John Pemberton’s sacking in midweek the Harriers looked to return to winning ways under the interim management of Russ Penn. Standing in their way was Liam Watson’s Southport side. Sadly the ‘new manager bounce’ failed to materialise today.
A hardy band of Harriers supporters were at Aggborough from 8am, participating in the East Stand clean up operation, fervently hoping their commitment would be rewarded. Penn opted to change the system, employing a 4-2-3-1 formation with Cliff Moyo played in a holding midfield role alongside Milan Butterfield whilst Ashley Hemmings and Ed Williams played wide, Declan Weeks in a more advanced role with Ashley Chambers ploughing a lone furrow up top.
Harriers appeared to look to play a more direct brand of football, but with Chambers up against the big centre back Ryan Astles, it would always be a tough ask.
The game was certainly not one for the ages with both sides playing the majority of their football in the air, although it was Harriers who tested the goalkeeper first; Charlie Albinson saving from a low Weeks effort. He also saved from a curling Hemmings effort and a Chambers header, with Astles being the only Sandgrounder to really trouble new Harriers keeper Will Mannion.
In truth, that was the sum of the action of what was a turgid first half.
HT: 0 – 0
Southport created the first decent chance of the second half as we approached the hour mark, with Bradley Bauress heading over.
If you hadn’t figured already that the game was surely headed for a goalless draw, consigned to the deepest depths of ones mind after the first half, you certainly knew it by now. Regardless, the supporters kept shivering and the players continued hoofing.
Devarn Green, formerly of Stourbridge, began to get some sighters of goal but nobody really threatened until Harriers switched off and were made to pay the ultimate price. Jack Sampson crossed the ball in from the right hand side and it should’ve been dealt with by the Harriers defence. As it was, Davidson left it for Ryan Johnson, who in turn left it for the full back. Green nipped in and gleefully poked the ball past Mannion for the winning goal.
When will Harriers ever learn?
Up next is another cold one, against Gateshead on Tuesday night. Ironically that was the last time a sub 1000 attendance was recorded for us in the league, back in 2010. What price history repeats itself in three days time?
FT: 0 – 1
Goal for Southport: Green 72
The Harriers Online MotM is: Cliff Moyo
Talk about the game here
Latest table and stats here
| Harriers | Goals | Subs | Time | Cards |
| Mannion | ||||
| Austin | ||||
| Davidson | ||||
| R Williams |  | |||
| Moyo | ||||
| Johnson | ||||
| Weeks | ||||
| Butterfield |  | 76 | ||
| Chambers |  | 62 | ||
| Hemmings | ||||
| E Williams | ||||
| Subs: | ||||
| Palmer | ||||
| Peniket |  | 62 | ||
| Prosser | ||||
| Shenton | ||||
| Diau |  | 76 | ||
| Southport | Goals | Subs | Time | Cards |
| Albinson | ||||
| Mohammed | ||||
| Doyle | ||||
| Winnard | ||||
| Astles | ||||
| Morgan | ||||
| Benjamin | ||||
| Wood | | 58 | ||
| Green |  |  | 90 | |
| Sampson | ||||
| Bauress | | 92 | ||
| Subs: | ||||
| Hanford | ||||
| Woods |  | 90 | ||
| Glynn | ||||
| Correia | | 58 | ||
| Oliver | | 92 | ||
| Referee: | ||||
| Mr Scott Simpson | ||||
| Stoke on Trent | ||||