Post
by The White Snowman » Sat Mar 28, 2015 8:46 pm
Vanarama Conference
Kidderminster Harriers 3 Braintree Town 1
Usual expenses
Attendance: 1,317 (announced)
The result slightly overstates the entertainment factor – it wasn’t that good a game. Arguably it was all over within just 12 minutes after Harriers scored two goals, the first a chase after a long ball forward through a static defence by Danny Wright after 8 minutes, the second another chase down the left wing by Lee Hughes who somehow kept another long ball in, cut inside, totally wrongfooted a bemused defender, and scored from an acute angle. Hughes had very nearly opened the scoring in similar fashion (3m) but that time Braintree keeper Hamann saved well. And Mensah had also sizzled one over the Harriers’ crossbar before the scoring spree.
On 30m there was a 5 minute injury delay with Braintree’s Marks being stretchered off after an arial collision, and Kidderminster added a third goal on 38m through Wright’s sharp near post header from Byrne’s cross.
Braintree pulled a goal back through Davis within a minute of the restart, but I can’t tell you exactly how it went down as some eejit returning to his seat totally blocked my view. Frown
After that, not a lot happened, apart from a running contretemps between Lee Hughes and Braintree defender Ryan Peters. The ball had gone out off Hughes by the corner flag for a throw-in; Peters attempted to take it 10 yards downfield. With the crowd and Hughes protesting, Peters then attempted to make it 15 yards. The referee duly hauled him back, with Peters appearing not entirely happy about the decision. The next time the ball went out for a Kidderminster throw-in, it was at about the 20 yard mark. Hughes took the ball and lolloping to the corner flag, pretended to take it from there - much mirth from the crowd, a wry smile from the referee.
The crowd were by now on Peters’ case as he was attempting to gain a fair bit of extra yardage per throw-in. Eventually Hughes had had enough of it and stood in front of him, stopping him taking the throw and protesting to the referee. Peters threw the ball in, and it hit Hughes - not hard, it must be said. The referee blew and decided to reverse the throw-in. Peters fell on his back in disgust. The crowd hooted.
The next time Peters went forward, this time to take a long throw-in, Hughes promptly stood in front of him on the touchline, bouncing up and down and waving his arms. The referee lost patience and booked Hughes for being a muppet. The Kiddy player was substituted shortly afterwards, presumably as a precautionary measure in case he compounded his felonies.
Classic showmanship by Lee Hughes - he certainly gave the crowd something to laugh at and remember in an otherwise unremarkable match, but if I was his manager ….. Pirate
Before this match, Kidderminster had only scored 4 times in 12 games, and one of those 4 was an own goal. Hopefully it’ll give them a confidence boost for the last few matches of the season. Only two more home games … Bristol Rovers and Barnet!
