Venue:
Aggborough
att:  3411  away fans:  916
Extra info
Harriers
1
  Bennett 47
Dean Bennett scores only goal in a very poor game.
Rovers were bad, bad, bad and we weren't much better
Bristol Rovers
0
 harriers-online match report
Sunday 28th December 2003 
HOME
Benno rocks Rovers


The Harriers grabbed the points against West Country opponents for the second time in three days with a goal from Dean Bennett.  It's nice to win games but it would be even nicer to see the lads play a bit better than what was dished up today.  Left over turkey came to mind.

Before the game Jan Molby had hinted at changes but it was almost the same team that at started at Yeovil on Boxing Day with the exception of Adie Smith who was out injured.  Lee Jenkins took his place and Scott Rickards came in for his full debut.  Again Andy White stayed on the bench with Jan preferring to play John Williams.

It was the Rovers who started the strongest but most of their passes were going astray, as were any passes that we could muster.  Dave Gilroy almost caught Stuart Brock out in the first few minutes, before the Harriers came back with a powerful drive from Dean Bennett which Kevin Miller got down well to save.

Slowly we got ourselves into the game when Scott Rickards went close with a volley only just wide of goal.  We did have a bit of a setback after only twenty minutes when Lee Jenkins went off injured to be replaced by Matt Gadsby.  With the arrival of Gadders it seemed to stop the freedom of the Rovers new signing, Ryan Williams.

With the Harriers now in the driving seat we started to pepper the Rovers goal with shots and managed to force a hatful of corners.  As usual we failed to convert them.

John Williams had two chances to get himself on the scoresheet.  First when he managed to get past Barrett but as he teed up his shot it was smothered at his feet by Miller.  His second chance came from a deflection from Rickards that fell just right for him but again Miller saved well to deny him by pushing the ball over the bar.

Seconds before half time Rickards again almost opened his account with a shot that was just wide as was Dean Bennett's shot as the referee blew his whistle to end the first 45 minutes.


HT. 0 - 0

Within two minutes of the re-start we had gone into the lead through Dean Bennett.  First he played the ball across goal to Graham Ward who then returned the favour for Deano, who had run into the area, to poke the ball between the diving Miller and his right hand post.

That was Dean's fifth goal of the season but his first in the League.

After that the game seemed to deteriorate with us failing to improve on the scoreline and Rovers content to send every ball over the stands.

Rovers were really bad, probably as bad as the Southend side that beat us earlier in the season and signalled the downfall of Ian Britton.

Jan tried to give the side a boost by bringing on Bo Henriksen for Scott Rickards.  Personally I thought it would have been better to take off the tiring John Williams and bring on Andy White along side Rickards instead.  We needed a bit of pace upfront and the unfit Bo wasn't going to supply that.

The disappointing fact was that after Deans goal we only had one more shot on the Bristol goal.  That was an effort from Danny Williams that went well over.

With the crowd drifting away Dave Savage almost sneaked a point for the Rovers when he beat Hatswell to the ball but couldn't quite get his shot in.  Brockie saved it but did almost let it slip between his legs.

These three points see the Harriers climb up to 16th place in the table but without a League game next we'll be hoping that those teams below us don't win.


FT. 1 - 0

The Harriers-Online
Man of the Match is : 
Graham Ward

He was here, there and everywhere.  All he needs now is a good run in the side.

Best for them:  Kevin Miller.  Although he didn't really have much to do.

vote for your
man of the match now

Harriers  subs   cards      Bristol Rovers  subs   cards 
Brock     Miller  
Jenkins     Anderson  
Stamps     Parker  
D Williams     Edwards  
Hinton     Barrett  
Hatswell     Quinn  
Bennett     R Williams  
Parrish     Savage  
J Williams     Agogo  
Rickards     Carlisle  
Ward     Gilroy  
SUBS:       SUBS:    
Danby     Clarke  
Betts     Hobbs  
Henriksen     Austin  
White     Arndale  
Gadsby     Webb  

REFEREE:
Mr B Curson
Leicestershire

links to some
bristol rovers websites:

official site
brfc return.com
click below
to see previous
results
Did you see the
same match as me?
Do you want to
write a report?
If you do then click here
If you came here from an external link
then please click below to go to
Harriers-Online
 
              Back to Top

Site © 1999- Harriers-Online.co.uk - all rights reserved  
This site is 100% unofficial and in no way represents the views of Kidderminster Harriers FC