Harriers sink Cambridge

The Harriers sent Cambridge Utd the same way as their crew in today's Boat Race.  Down into the waves of despair in a game that ended with the Harriers collecting their second away win in a row and the third win of the week.

Dean Coleman was in goal for us after the usual custodian, Chris MacKenzie, picked up an injury during the game at Crawley on Thursday night.  On the bench for us were our two new signings, Jake Moult and Michael Wylde.  The only other change was Jeff Kenna dropping out to make way for Paul Bignot.

Cambridge had a new keeper in goal for them after regular man Danny Potter was sent off last week.  Alex McCarty was signed from Reading to stand in for him.

With the game in doubt earlier on after continuous rain in Cambridge over the past few days it kicked off on a heavily sanded pitch that was to make the going heavy.  The home side were the first on the attack when another loan signing, Jack Jeffrey, tried a speculative shot from long distance after Coleman made a poor clearance but Mark Creighton was on hand to block it easily.

The Harriers first chance fell to Gavin Hurren when he tried a looping header but the new man in the Utd goal collected it without any problem.  Our keeper was looking a bit unsure of himself though and was flapping slightly whenever a high ball came over.

Both sides were evenly balanced now and were attacking at will.  Dean Bennett saw a twenty five yard shot fly just wide and then Matt Barnes-Homer found Iyseden Christie with a smart through ball but the former Harrier Wayne Hatswell was on hand to clear away the danger.

Christie had another chance to open the scoring soon after but sent his shot way over the bar after being played in by Alex Jeannin.

The goal wasn't long coming though and in the twenty sixth minute MBH opened the scoring for us with a well taken goal.  Christie headed the ball on to him and he then took the ball past Josh Coulson and as the rookie keeper advanced he slipped it under him and into the net.

Cambridge try to battle their way back into the game by taking the term 'battle' literally.  Stephen Reed makes a string of high challenges on Harriers players but the referee didn't seem too perturbed by his actions.  Mark Creighton spoke to the ref about it but was just waved away.

Creights saved the Harriers faces straight after when he made a great challenge on Magno Vieira when he looked to be through on goal after Courtney Pitt played a pin point through ball to him.

Utd did manage to get the ball into the net in the thirty sixth minute of the game when Coulson netted Reeds free kick but luckily for the Harriers it was ruled out for a push on Paul Bignot.

Eventually the referee blew the whistle for half time and the Harriers went in for the break just about holding on to their slender lead.