Caines sent off after Harriers take the lead at York

The Harriers came away from York City after going into a fantastic second minute lead from a Brian Smikle strike only to find themselves down to ten men just minutes later when Gavin Caines was adjudged to have tripped Richard Brodie.  In the end they ended up losing the game 3-2 but the ten men tried really hard to get something from what promised to be a lost cause and almost succeeded.

With Dean Bennett missing from the game, following his fifth yellow card at Forest Green the other night, Robbie Matthews came back into the side for his first start since his injury re-occurred against Eastbourne a few weeks ago  It would be interesting to see if he would be able to last the full ninety minutes.

The game kicked off and within a minute we had gone into the lead after Smikle converted a super cross from David McDermott with his head but then just six minutes later disaster struck when a long ball over the top found Brodie racing in on goal and Gavin Caines wrong footed in trying to get back.  Brodies shot hit the post at the same time as Caines caught his heels and the referee immediately drew a red card out and pointed to the spot.

This was all wrong on a number of points.  Brodie had already released a shot towards goal so it could not count as denying a goal scoring opportunity and in that case it should have been a yellow card.  Brodie is also believed by many there, including City fans, to have dived.  The referee should really have waited a few seconds before going in like a bull at a gate.  Then again the referee in our game against Altrincham recently did exactly the same thing in sending off Martin Riley without even considering the matter.

Brodie converted from the penalty spot and Gavin will now miss the Wrexham game this coming Tuesday evening.

A change around to accommodate the loss of Caines took place soon after with Darryl Knights making way for Nathan Hayward to slot into the defence.  Ironically when Nathan was taken from the field a few minutes later for treatment to a cut head Brodie pounced again and slotted home his and City's second goal of the day.

Djoumin Sangare's cross had come over towards Dean Coleman but the Harriers keeper could only parry it into the path of Brodie.  It hit the striker on the chest and went beyond Coleman into the net.

Even with us now a goal behind we didn't give up and continued to pressurise the City goal and looking for a way back.  Robbie Matthews missed out on the best chance when he headed over Michael Inghams goal.