First home win of the season

The Harriers cruised to their first home win of the season tonight against a Southport side that tried hard to match our pace and endeavour but in the end just hadn't got enough in the tank to do so.    With the game being played at 100mph throughout almost all of the game it was end to end stuff that produced the right result for us.

Jeff Kenna was missing at the back for us so Jake Sedgemore stepped into his boots, Simon Russell replaced Jamie McClen and up-front Luke Reynolds was dropped to the bench with a starting place for Andy White.    For Southport the Harriers legend Mike Marsh was on the bench.

Southport were the first to stage an attack on goal when a low cross by Mark Jackson ran across the face of the goal that Lee only just failed to connect with.    It was an early let off for us and also an early warning to buckle down to the task.

We were finding it hard to beat a pretty solid 'Port defence and matters weren't being helped with the offside flag continually going up.    All our shots were long range because of that with Russ Penn and Michael McGrath both trying their luck from distance.

In the twenty seventh minute Southport suffered a major set-back when their number five, Lee, was stretchered off with a suspected broken ankle.    He was replaced by Michael Powell.

Southport had another chance to open the scoring via Jackson when his shot forced Scott Bevan to push the ball away for a corner.    Russ Penn replied with a run through their defence and let go with a shot that was easily saved by Robinson.

The whistle went for half time soon after and things were looking good for us once again.    No goals conceded but then again none scored either.