Stratford Town 2 Harriers 1

A Harriers side made up of mainly triallists went down 2-1 tonight in our second friendly of the season at Stratford Town.  Some games were intended all along as being ones that would only include a few 1st team players and that was the case tonight with just Tom Sharpe (match fitness), Michael Briscoe, and Jack Byrne (match fitness before he starts a four game ban) from last season starting the game.  On the bench was Rob Thompson-Brown, Jamille Matt and also James McPike who, if you remember, got badly injured in pre-season last year.

The rest of the team was signed players Dean Lyness, Mickey Demetriou and Jack Cresswell along with youth teamers Dan Taylor and Joe Adams while Tom James (ex Stratford), Osebi Abadaki (ex Altrincham, Buxton, Macclesfield and Stalybridge), Dior Angus (ex Solihull Moors), Ryan Robins (unknown) and a keeper named Sheridan.

The first half was a non-event for both sides with the hosts looking to have the better chances through Martin Thompson, Myckel Beckley and Sam Alsop.  We had a few attempts on goal via Abadaki and Tom Sharpe who earlier in the game had been the victim of a crunching tackle.

HT: Stratford Town 0 Harriers 0

The second half started with a bang.  In quick succession we had firstly a penalty for us after Cresswell was sent crashing in the box and Thompson-Brown converted and then just seconds later Town equalised with a penalty of their own following a handball in the area.  Mykle Beckley put that away.

We came out of our shell slightly and went in search of another goal but despite efforts from RT-B and Abadaki it was the useful looking Beckley that grabbed his brace to give Stratford the win.  Mark Faulds could have made it three soon after but his shot was well saved by Sheridan.

FT: Stratford Town 2 Harriers 1

Harriers: Lyness (Sheridan), Sharpe, Briscoe, Demetriou (Taylor), James, Abadaki, Byrne (Adams), Cresswell, Robins, Matt (McPike), Angus (Thompson-Brown).