Harriers given a rough ride by Alfreton and the referee

Kidderminster Harriers celebrated their 125th anniversary today against newly-promoted Alfreton Town at Aggborough.  Marc Williams returned to the side earlier than expected after picking up an injury against Crewe in an unofficial friendly recently.  For Alfreton Town the impressive Paul Clayton starred alongside ex-Harriers player Drewe Broughton, who returned to his former club, once again, eight years after leaving the Harriers for Southend United.

In the first half the Harriers performance was not befitting of the occasion as the first half barely saw one clear cut chance for the home side whilst Alfreton Town outfought and bossed the Harriers in a physical battle which they won easily.  The Harriers did have a free-kick halfway through the half from Kyle Storer that was well saved by the Alfreton goalkeeper Daniel Lowson but aside from that they didn't threaten too much.

The away side took the lead through a familiar face when a ball from the right hand side was crossed towards Theo Street who was shoved by Luke Jones and the referee Peter Bankes pointed to the spot.  Up stepped Broughton who dispatched the penalty to the right of Danny Lewis who dived the opposite direction.  This was unlike the last penalty that Broughton took at Aggborough, at the same end of the ground against Lincoln City in the opening day of the 2002/03 season which was saved causing Harriers to draw 1-1.

Back to the present and the Harriers still were getting outfought physically by Alfreton although the inconsistency of the referee didn't help matters as after the penalty decision the referee seemed to lose control of the game.  Alfreton were twice lucky not to go down to ten men with, late on in the half, Tom Marshall receiving an elbow in the face with Broughton (who else?) getting away with the foul and likewise when Scott Phelan was fouled on the edge of his own area following a two footed lunge from Matt Wilson who also got away without going into the book.

Harriers players were getting frustrated with the physical approach that seemed to go unpunished by the referee and Storer in particular was booked for dissent and following that Steve Guinan amusingly got booked for the same thing in implying that a player had dived by theatrically throwing himself to the ground.

The Harriers did end up going into the break on equal terms though when Phelan whipped in a corner from the right to the far post which was headed back across goal by Luke Jones and subsequently turned in by Marc Williams for his second goal this season.  Perhaps undeserved but it was Harriers day after all so a lucky goal wasn't to be complained at.

Following what seemed an eternity of stoppage time for the Marshall incident half time arrived.  This saw the return of Captain Crazy along with some Harriers favourites of yesteryear, with the likes of Stewart Logan right through to Richard Forsyth stepping back onto the Harriers turf for the first time in many years.

The second half saw the Harriers kicking towards their own fans and their performance stepped up with manager, Steve Burr seeming to send his players out more fired up and so they took the lead in the fifty first minute.  Lee Vaughan went on one of his typical surging runs down the right flank, whipping in a cross that looped over goalkeeper Lowson's head, and was met at the far post by the boot of Steve Guinan to give the Harriers the lead.

From then on the Harriers were in control and Alfreton didn't have another clear chance to get back into the game but, in saying that, the formation that the Harriers played meant that there were very few chances created against a side who's performance in general befitted their lowly place in the Blue Square Premier table.

Then the personnel changes came into the game as it went into a lull with James Vincent replacing Scott Phelan, Broughton was replaced by Nathan Jarman and Guinan was replaced by Jamille Matt.

The Harriers then went on to get a third goal to cap off the celebrations with James Vincent netting his first for the club.  Marc Williams and Matt surged forward, with Williams trying to play the ball to Matt with vigour.  Matt and Nick Wright both dummied it for James Vincent to run on and slam it into the bottom left corner of the goal via the inside of the post.

Whilst the performance may not have been the best the result itself wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination and it gets Harriers back on track after drawing against Ebbsfleet and losing against Wrexham in recent games.  Next up is Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night, a long travel up north and the fact its mid-week must make it harder against a side that has splashed the cash in the Conference this season.  However, at least we can go into the game in good form and hope that we can produce a shock against the Cod Army.

On a personal note, today's game was my last before I head off to Aberystwyth University to study History and International Politics meaning this will be my last report for quite a while as it won't be easy for me to return to many games on a students budget! (that will mainly be spent in the pub. Phil...).

I'd like to thank Phil for allowing me to write on this site, although I sense that he may have been grateful for someone else to do it for a change when I first started and I'd like to thank anyone who has read my reports over time.  Whether you've agreed or disagreed with what I've thought, I've always tried to be honest and say what I feel about the game and hope that has come across.

Up the Harriers
Harry

Today will be remembered as a celebration for 125 years of Kidderminster Harriers, and a lesson for league strugglers Alfreton Town, after we defeated them 3-1.  Pre-match the party atmosphere was evident and there was much anticipation for the return of former player, Drewe Broughton for what would be an unforgettable return in front of a just short of 2000 crowd at Aggborough.

The match started in Alfreton's favour, seeing them take the first attacking advantage from an open start, but Anton Brown hit his attempt over the bar after a free kick.  Harriers first chance came through Steve Guinan with his header keeping 'keeper Dan Lowson on his toes.

The game soon lifted though and more chances were being made.  First a Kyle Storer free-kick tested Lowson from a foul by Leigh Franks on the edge of the box, just after Franks himself had, had a chance that almost dipped in above Lewis from a dangerous cross.

There was drama in the thirty first minute when Luke Jones was on the wrong end of a tussle with Theo Streete, which saw him judged to have pushed him by referee Peter Banks, and lead to an Alfreton penalty.  The penalty was converted by Drewe Broughton, which he hit to the Danny Lewis' left, sending him the wrong way.

More debateable refereeing followed as two Harriers players were booked in one minute.  First Kyle Storer for arguing his point of view about the refereeing decisions and then Steve Guinan was booked for politely asking the referee for a free kick, after sarcastically diving.

Alfreton then threatened to extend their lead when a troubling Jake Moult, formerly on loan with us but never playing, had a chance deep in the Harriers area, where he headed just over.

Harriers showed their first sign of an equaliser when a Tom Marshall free kick, from a foul on Steve Guinan on the edge of the area, was just tipped over by a diving Lowson.

The equaliser eventually came when, from the resulting corner, Marc Williams scored.  Scott Phelan whipped in a damaging cross which was then knocked back across the goal by Luke Jones, for a tap in by Williams.  A well worked 'training ground' goal by Kidderminster in the thirty eighth minute.

But the drama in the first half wasn't over, in what was the story of two elbows.  The first of these was from Jake Moult when his elbow collided with the Harriers captain Mike Williams and that started a few minutes of exchanges between the two players.  The referee failed to book Moult.

The second of the elbows was a much more malicious one from ex-Red, Drewe Broughton.  The once loved Harrier (you sure? Phil...) kept to his playing style when whacking Tom Marshall in the side of the head and this lead to a gruesome affair with most players involved in a scrap.  It lead to a long chat between the referee and his assistants and their decision, amazingly, was not to book Broughton.  This signalled the end of the half which saw Aggborough welcome back some ex greats during the break.

The second half was mainly remembered for Harriers desire to win the match and it lead to a goal five minutes into the half, with another tap-in, this time for Steve Guinan.  Nick Wright received the ball on the edge of the box, and his skill and trickery set free Lee Vaughan, who was a constant threat on the right wing, to cross in for Guinan to convert.

The game then started to fizzle out after Harriers took the lead.  That was until a corner was given to Alfreton which was well worked and ending in a shot which saw goal-scorer Steve Guinan have to make a goal line block.

Then Harriers created another chance when a malicious tackle from Leigh Franks saw a free kick get hit over by Marshall, a constant threat from set-peices with his left foot.

Once more the game seemed to be lacking that bit of class that had been seen in the first half by both teams, with the only real enjoyment for the fans coming from a dashing fluorescent orange cap which was worn by the linesman on the east side.

A possible sending off for Alfreton player Leigh Franks followed though.  A slightly reckless foul from Steve Guinan saw the Alfreton player kick out at the tall Harriers striker but that marked the end of a good performance from Guinan, seeing him replaced by fans-favourite Jamille Matt.

Late on the Harriers made the final push and caught Alfreton sleeping at the back when a long ball, controlled by Jamille Matt, was knocked down to Marc Williams.  He charged and released Nick Wright to send a great cross in, left by Williams and Matt, to be converted marvelously by James Vincent, where his shot rebounded in off the post.

The end of the bad tempered game saw the Alfreton manager, Nicky Law, sent off to the dressing room and Matt creating a final chance where he came in off the right hand side and weaved through a couple of players to shoot at the Alfreton 'keeper.  In injury time Franks was also sent back to the dressing room after picking up his second booking of the game.

This marked full time with the Harriers just taking the advantage and defeating Alfreton 3-1, with a good performance from all of the lads, and especially from our Man of the Match, Lee Vaughan.

 Goals for Harriers: Marc Williams 39, Guinan 51, Vincent 89
 Goal for Alfreton: Broughton 31 (pen)

REFEREE:

Mr P Bankes Merseyside