Harriers make the Wombles wobble

The Harriers picked up a shock victory at home to the team who were joint-top of the table at the start of today's game, AFC Wimbledon, continuing their good form which now sees them six games unbeaten and now up to 11th in the table.

The side was the same team that drew against Fleetwood in midweek with Nick Wright still omitted from the side through illness.  Wimbledon's star striker, Danny Kedwell, who was subject of a six figure bid from Crawley earlier this season started for the visitors and was marked out of the game by a superb Ollie Thorne.

Seven minutes into the game and the Wimbledon goalkeeper Seb Brown should've been sent off following him handling well outside the area after a long ball forward from Lee Vaughan.  The home fans were up in arms about the decision to award nothing but a throw in seeing as it was clear to most in the ground that Brown should've been taking an early bath.

The game itself was somewhat of a stalemate with very few chances being created of any significance.  The best the Harriers could do was following a surging run from Lee Morris, taking it past Ed Harris, he crossed the ball to the near post where Chris McPhee couldn't get enough of a touch and Brown gathered it easily.

There was yet more ill-feeling towards the referee in the 22nd minute when an altercation between Ryan Jackson and Jack Byrne saw the former push Byrne away, possibly with his arms towards Byrne's face.  To make it worse Lee Morris then sprinted 35 yards across the pitch to give his view on the matters which achieved nothing at all and should've seen him booked.  As it turned out neither Jackson or Byrne got a booking which was the wrong decision seeing as Byrne had done little to wind-up the Wimbledon right midfielder.

Twelve minutes later and captain Keith Briggs missed a chance which should've put the home side a goal to the good when Callum Gittings whipped over a ball from the left hand side.  Briggs ran to the far post and nodded the ball down but it went wide instead of going into the bottom corner of the goal which is where it looked like he was aiming.

He needn't have worried because the Harriers were to go into the break a goal up following McPhee receiving the ball inside the area from Morris and the unmarked former Harriers captain smacked the ball past Brown to the right hand side of his goal to give us the lead.

At half time 'The Reds' went in with a 1-0 lead and a lot of the home fans were surprised at the lack of threat from Wimbledon.  Surely it wouldn't last?

With just over five minutes gone after the break the lead could have been doubled via Dave Hankin who received the ball unmarked and on the break.  He advanced on goal and, with him one on one with the keeper, he put the ball towards the far left hand post but it was too far and it trickled wide without endangering the goal in the slightest.

After this chance little happened until the next clear cut one.  With Wimbledon making all of their changes before 70 minutes they were seemingly putting all their eggs in one basket very early on.  Ed Harris did get booked for the visitors for a challenge on Hankin but apart from that little happened until the 71st minute when Gittings took a short corner to Mike Williams who sent the ball over to Briggs who controlled the ball on his chest and let it drop before rifling in a well hit volley that went wide of the left hand post although it was a good effort from the ex-Stalybridge man.

The game seemingly had another goal in it and Wimbledon were beginning to get a bit more into the game.  Steve Burr responded by introducing Matty Blair in place of Hankin who, unfortunately, had another poor game and also Marc Williams for Lee Morris – who on the other hand had one of the best games I've seen him play and if he continues its only a matter of time before he gets a goal.

Talking of goals, Kidderminster soon doubled their lead in the 83rd minute when Marc Williams ran through on goal on the right hand side of the area and, despite the attentions of Harris, he had a shot which the keeper parried away but deflected off Williams and rolled across goal.  The on-loan striker realised he could get to the ball and sprinted after the rebound and got there, turning and shooting into the goal via the boot of Harris to pretty much secure the victory by the Harriers.

There was a slight worry in the air that Harriers may throw it away and, with four minutes of stoppages awarded, there was a sense of joy and relief when the final whistle was blown to signal that the three points were safe for us.

The result itself was a surprise but Wimbledon didn't threaten at all – whatsoever.  The only player who stood out for them was Jackson who despite having a pop at Byrne had a good game and showed trickery when running at the Harriers defence.  Apart from that though, Brian Lane, your boys took one hell of a beating!!

 Goals for Harriers: McPhee 44, Marc Williams 83

REFEREE:

Mr D Handley Lancashire