York bring their Shambles with them

The Harriers romped to their second home win on the trot with this accomplished performance against a York City side that are struggling in the League after being tipped as one of the front runners by many at the start of the season.    To say that the York side we saw today are a shambles is an insult to one of the most famous streets in the world.

From the very first whistle the Harriers dominated the game and the scoreline of 3-0 was an injustice to the amount of times that we could have scored.

Starting the game without Stuart Whitehead we saw a few changes to the side with the main one being Paul Bignot starting and Jeff Kenna moving to a centre half position alongside Mark Creighton.    Andy Ferrell moved back into midfield and Dean Bennett went out wide.

York didn't include the former Harriers player Chris Beardsley in their side at all and he seems to be out of favour with them at the moment.    Shame really because he would probably have a bit more go in him than the present first choices.

The game started well for us with Justin Richards going close to scoring with a number of easy chances but he was either off balance or not concentrating when the chances presented to him were either skied over the York crossbar or fired straight into Steve Hendersons arms.    Justin also had a certain penalty turned down when he was flattened while attempting to get past a City defender in the area.

The first goal wasn't too long in coming though and this time Richards got it just right when he met Michael Blackwoods cross into the area perfectly to send the ball hard and low into the net.

York's response was to go in hard on our lads in the tackle and shirt tug whenever the referee wasn't watching.    Not that he would have worried anyway having come down from Yorkshire on the team coach.

Dean Bennett doubled the lead fifteen minutes later with a cracker of a goal, the first for him in his second spell at Aggborough.    Some smart passing football from Richards and James Constable saw the ball released to Russ Penn who then selflessly passed it to Deano who hit a curving shot just inside the post.    The keeper saw it, but too late, and couldn't quite stop it going in.

We had now got our tails up and pressurised the City goal relentlessly with more chances falling for Richard, Blackwood and Constable but the York defence held out and must have been grateful to hear the half-time whistle.

HT: 2 - 0

Did we feel sorry for York in the second half or did the visitors raise their game to make us look dis-interested?

Neither I think.    It was obvious that York would have been on the end of a ear bashing from their boss Billy McEwen during the break and they did raise their game slightly but no where near enough to put the frighteners on us.    We just mopped up all the mis-placed passes and half hearted attempts to score.

We lost the services of Mark Creighton early on in the half when he went off with an injury to his knee that had been picked up during the first half.    Gavin Hurren came on to deputise for him and the worry was that York would capitalise on this enforced change but again it never appeared.

Jeff Kenna was giving a masterclass in the centre of the park and all around him the whole defence were getting on with their own particular jobs faultlessly.    Paul Bignot was taking the chance to stake his claim for a place in the next game and even Jonny Harkness didn't have a bad game.    He still does tend to over hit his passes though.

Twenty minutes from the end we had another valid claim for a penalty turned down when Richards was again upended in the City area.    Again the tame referee waved our claims away to leave Richards on his knees looking bemused at the referees decision.

Iyseden Christie came on for Constable and then towards the end of the game Brian Smikle came on for Dean Bennett who was starting to look tired.

Our final goal of the game came after a bit of pressure on Scott Bevans goal and the quick breakaway lead to Brian Smikle taking the ball down the side of the East Stand.    He beat his man twice and then crossed into the area for Christie to take a shot that was pushed away by the keeper towards Richards.    Comical defending followed as the York players crashed into each other as the ball rolled into the back of the net.

Ironically Justin got booked for celebrating his goal.    A much more worthy reason than some of Yorks dubious tactics.

This was an easier win than we thought it would be.    City were just bad, bad, bad and unless some major changes take place within the next few weeks then they could be playing their games more locally next season.

As for us we may not be world beaters but we are far more attractive to watch this season.    We just need to match our consistency with our effort and we can't go too far wrong.

FT: 3 - 0

 Goals for Harriers: Richards 16, 89 Bennett 30