It took a long time arriving but today, after four previous attempts, we finally came home with all three points and so killed the myth of never winning at Grays. With it coming in on the back of a dearth of goals in recent weeks was just a bit more of a bonus.
There were a couple of changes to the side that lost at home to Kettering on Tuesday evening with John Finnigan and Kyle Hadley making their first game starts at the expense of Darryl Knights and Robbie Matthews. Matthews was not being risked after picking up a slight groin pull the other night.
From the start the Harriers went out in search of an early goal and following a corner and a couple of half chances it arrived in the thirteenth minute.
Brian Smikle tore down the right side of the pitch, avoided a challenge from Kenny Davis, crossed the ball low into the area. As it went across the edge of the box Dean Bennett was in just the right place to whip the ball into the back of Preston Edwards' net.
A minute later Smikle tried to get on the score sheet himself when he fired just over after he was played in by Matt Barnes-Homer MBH wasn't going to miss out and he was the next to have a try but just as he was about to take aim the Grays defender,Gavin Hoyte, came in and robbed him of the ball.
Grays weren't going to let the Harriers have it all their own way. From a corner, conceded by Martin Riley, Hoyte thumped a header straight at Dean Coleman.
We extended our lead soon after and in the process doubling the amount of goals scored by us so far this season. Seconds earlier Brian Smikle had been warned to calm down by the referee after tussling on the touchline with three Grays players. From the throw-in we broke away as Kyle Hadley took the ball down towards the Grays goal and struck the ball towards the Grays keeper. Edwards blocked his shot but only as far as Smikle who had the easiest of tasks to sweep the ball into the net.
A minute later Smikle could have scored again but this time his effort following a corner went wide.
We had numerous more chances to grab a third, killing, goal but Dean Bennett, John Finnigan and Gavin Caines just couldn't get that vital finish on the ball and the half ended with the Reds leading by an emphatic two goals.
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