harriers-online match report
Vs southend utd 
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Who needs Molby when we've got Ian's B & C.


The Harriers kept in touch with the play-off spaces with this easy win against an injury stricken Southend Utd.

In the glorious Easter sunshine the shirt sleeved Reds fans welcomed the new temporary management team of Ian Britton and Ian Clarkson into the arena, Britton looking uncannily like Jan Molby but less the green shorts.

The first surprise was the absence of Colin Larkin who had undergone a minor op to remove an abcess on his neck earlier in the morning, Ian Foster took his place.

Making his debut in goal for us was Gary Montgomery, on loan from Coventry City until the end of the season. He was replacing Stuart Brock who was starting his two game ban after being sent off at Luton.

Southend had striker problems as they were without all their normal forward line of Rawle, Richards, Bramble and Belgrave.

The Harriers were straight out of the starting blocks with a 25yd drive from Richie Appleby that drew a fingertip save from Daniel Gay in goal for the Shrimpers.

Drewe Broughton came close twice, both from crosses by Ian Foster, but Gay got to the ball just before him both times.

Scott Stamps was rightfully booked in the 11th minute when he pulled back Clark on the touchline after Clark had left him for dead.

From the resulting free kick taken by Broad the victim headed over the bar.

Broughton again came close, this time beating Gay to the ball, but his header from Fosters cross went well wide

Drewe's name was the second one to go in the book after catching Leon Cort late but this seemed to be a bit unfair because minutes earlier Southends Johnson was let off for a similar tackle that had looked far worse.

Our reward for all our pressure came in the 37th minute.

Harriers won a free kick just outside the penalty area, and from Appleby's free kick Broughton climbed to send a header goalwards. The ball glanced off Abdou Sall into the path of Henriksen who managed to scramble the ball into the back of the net.

After that the game got bogged down in midfield as Southend tightened up but the Harriers were still camped in the Southend half for almost all of the first 45 minutes.


HT. 1-0

The first move after the break was the substitution of Tony Bird for the disappointing Henriksen.

Apart from the goal Bo had done very little, he looked to be the one most affected by the loss of Jan Molby. This was understandable really, the surprise was that he didn't come out and sit with the subs for the remainder of the game.

Birdie was soon in action when he won a free kick on the edge of the area but from Richie's free kick he couldn't get behind the ball enough and his header went well over the bar.

His best chance of the game came soon after when he ran onto a fine through ball from Danny Williams but, seeing the keeper off his line, he lobbed the ball over his head. The lob was too strong though and it went well over the bar.

Southend then had their best effort of the game when the former Arsenal midfielder, Ian Selley, sent a 25yd drive just over the bar.

In the 77th minute Southend were finished off when Abdou, who also was having a poor game, went on one of his all too rare inspiring runs from his own half.

He crossed the halfway line with the ball at his feet and took the ball past three mortified Southend players, too terrified to tackle him. At the edge of the area he lifted the ball in for Ian Foster who's first attempt was pushed out by Gay only to see it fall back at Fozzies feet.
Given a second chance he made no mistake.

After that the game fizzled out with the Reds safe in the knowledge that Southend had nothing to offer in reply.

This win puts us up to 8th in the league but 4 points behind Rushden who had a stunning 4-1 win at Mansfield.

It looks like being a six pointer at Nene Park in two weeks time.


FT. 2-0

Harriers-Online Man of the Match is :

Danny Williams


This time it was a choice between Danny and Craig Hinton.

Although Craig had a good game he was prone to passing back to the keeper far too much.
A good opposing attack would have had a field day.


vote for your
man of the match now

TEAMS:

Harriers.
Montgomery, Smith, Hinton, Sall, Stamps, Appleby, Williams, Bennett, Henriksen, Broughton, Foster.

Subs;   Danby, Shilton, Ducros, Bird, Joy.

Southend Utd.
Gay, Broad, McSweeney, Cort, Searle, S.Clark, Maher, Selley, Johnson, Thurgood, Newman.

Subs;   Flahavan, Whelan, A.Clark, Kerrigan, Szmid.

CARDS;
Yellow. Harriers 0.
Yellow. Southend Utd 0.

Red. Harriers 0.
Red. Southend Utd 0.

Referee; 
Mr H M Webb (Rotherham).


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