Todays game was won with goals from Iyseden Christie and a well struck second half penalty from Lee Thompson that put paid to a spirited showing from our Conference North hosts who included both Matt Lewis and Sam Shilton in their line-up. Both teams started strongly with the keepers being tested on a number of occasions with the ball being put into the net by Michael Blackwood only to see it get ruled off for offside.On the half hour mark the Reds opened the scoring with another goal from Issey Christie making him the leading scorer with four goals during this run of friendlies. The goal did have a slight suspicion of offside about it but it was allowed to stand.
The second half was very stop and start with a number of substitutions from both sides but the Harriers made sure of victory with a penalty twenty minutes from the end. Christie had a shot on goal that our old friend Ryan 'Metal Mickey' Price saved at point blank range but a Hinckley defender bought him down as his keeper attempted to clear the ball.
Lee Thompson took the spot kick and buried the ball easily past Price for the win.
Six wins from nine friendlies against a good range of sides from all levels made it a decent pre-season for us and should set us up for what should be a good season back with the 'minnows'. A new striker has been promised for Monday morning and along with Christie knocking in goals at last then at least scoring should be no problem.
Defensively it's a different matter with our left back conundrum but I fully expect Stuart Watkiss to tackle that problem sooner rather than later.
Harriers:
Danby, Evans, Burton, O'Connor, Jackson, Burgess, Sheldon, Fleming, Christie, Thompson, Blackwood, Graves, Hollis, Russell, Hatswell.
Hinckley:
Price, Storer, Colkin, Lavery, Heeley, Winder, Lewis, Shilton, McGregor, Brown, Wade, Storey, Cluzel, Jackson, Piecewright.
Attendance: 398
