Venue:
Aggborough
att: 3180    away fans: 910    
Harriers
2
Henriksen 2 (15, 74 pen)
Mansfield
1
Corden (65)
 harriers-online match report
9th august 2003 
HOME
Bo double sends temperatures soaring


What organization in their right mind decides to start the football season in August when you can more or less guarantee temperatures such as those that we had today.  This is cricket weather, beach weather and hiding in the shade weather.  Not playing football weather.

Lets have a campaign to start the season in September, do away with the LDV Cup, and play more midweek league games instead.  Makes sense to me.

By the end of this game those hard working men out there must have sweated buckets and lost a few pounds in the process.

This was never going to be a classic game but, apart from the temperature, it was memorable for one thing.  Bo Henriksens stunning goal that has already been given the goal of the season award.

That came in the 15th minute during a spell of pressure from Mansfield that saw Stuart Brock pull off a string of world class saves.  One from ex Harrier Colin Larkin that defied belief.

Back to the goal and it was a cross field pass, from the much maligned Kenny Coleman, to the feet of Bo.  He headed for goal but, already the effect of the heat was showing, he found himself being closed down by Mansfield defenders and the keeper.  Now well off his line the keeper was caught in no mans land and, with his typical Danish joi de vivre, Bo lobbed it over Pilkingtons head.  We all thought it was going over but it suddenly dipped and dropped like a stone into the net.

This seemed to spur Town on and again it was Larkin who tested Brockie to the limit.  Liam Lawrence also tried to beat Brock with a Beckham-esque free kick but failed.

More chances came for the Stags from Dimech, Williamson and Larkin again but having failed to beat Brock they all trooped off for a welcoming half time bag of ice.


HT. 1 - 0

The second half was a much more relaxed affair with the only real surprise in the first twenty minutes being the withdrawal, by Mansfield, of the hard working Colin Larkin to be replaced by Junior Mendes.  I can understand the jeers of derision from the Mansfield fans especially as it should have been the ineffective Christie that should have been replaced.

By one of those strange twists of fate though Mansfield drew level with a very dubious free kick.

A 50/50 ball on the edge of the area saw it bounce off the turf onto Danny Williams arm.  Although it was obviously ball to hand the Mansfield fans screamed "Handball" at the ref and, being easily swayed, he gave a free kick that was curled into the far corner out of Stuart's reach.

In response Ian Britton bought on John Williams for his debut in place of the lack lustre Andy Bishop.  Straight away the tactics changed to the Broughton style with plenty of long ball played in for Willo to run onto.

This seemed to un-settle Mansfield.

Our first chance to get the lead back was wasted when Sean Flynn found himself in a one on one with the keeper.  Bo was to his right and better placed but instead of passing Flynnie blazed the ball over the goal and hit the top of the stand, disturbing deposits of pigeon droppings onto the crowd below.

Flynnie did his usual push ups.  I'd rather that he had come over to the fans and apologised for his stupidity.

The lead was regained soon after though when Kenny Coleman took the ball into the area only to see his weak shot pushed out by Pilkington.  After a bit of goal mouth ping pong the ball fell again for Kenny who's weak shot this time was stopped by Curtis's hand.

The ref pointed to the spot and, after a bit of argie bargie and a few bookings, Bo coolly slotted the ball into the corner from the penalty spot.

To their credit Mansfield never gave up and Disley almost got them back on level terms when his header was cleared off the line by Adam Willis.

With the minutes ticking down Willo almost opened his account for us when he locked onto a long pass from the back.  Just as he was about to shoot our old friend Dave Artell managed to rob him of the ball to deny him the chance.

Another good start to a new season.  We have yet to lose an opening game but our next League game at Darlington will be a harder nut to crack.

I don't expect a positive result at Portman Rd on Wednesday but feel that we should get at least a point at the Reynolds Ampitheatre next week.


FT. 2 - 1

The Harriers-Online
Man of the Match is : 
Stuart Brock

Could there be any other choice.

Best for them:  Colin Larkin.  Why he was taken off is a mystery.

vote for your
man of the match now

Harriers  subs   cards      Mansfield  subs   cards 
Brock     Pilkington
Coleman     Hassell  
Stamps     Clarke  
D Williams     Dimech
Hinton   Artell  
Willis     Curtis
Bennett     Lawrence
Flynn     Corden  
Bishop     Larkin  
Henriksen     Christie  
Shilton     Williamson  
SUBS:       SUBS:    
Danby     Day  
Ayres     White  
Parrish     Mendes  
Ward     Baptiste  
J Williams     Disley  

REFEREE:
Mr S Tanner
Bristol

links to some
mansfield websites:

official site
stagsnet
stags online
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