At last the Harriers get their shooting boots on

The Harriers eased into the last sixteen of the FA Trophy against a Droylsden side that eventually failed to offer any resistance to the goal onslaught.  They also re-discovered the knack of scoring once more and it all added up to great entertainment for the fans of both sides.

It seemed like it would be a good afternoon from the off for the Harriers when a couple of chances that didn't require much effort went just wide, firstly from Mickey Demetriou and then from Jamille Matt, but it was the new lad Danny Bradley who opened the scoring early on.

He had played well in his first two appearances for the Harriers and this goal seemed to show that his luck was in.  After receiving the ball, and easing past one defender, he seemed to try and pass it into the back of the net and that confused the Droylsden keeper as he hopelessly dived on it and then watched it trickle into the back of the net.

Droylsden then tried to test the Harriers goal but they couldn't quite string together the right move to test Dean Lyness, who was in for the cup-tied Tony Breeden.  Their best chance saw Ciaran Kilheeney squander his chance after a poor clearance from the Reds defence.

The Harriers then tested Droylsdens' keeper, Paul Phillips, as Steve Guinan found himself through on goal but his shot was saved.  Thankfully the keeper was helpless against a fantastic shot from Nick Wright.

Good play from the Harriers saw them break away and the ball fell to Wright on the edge of the box and he curled it off the outside of his foot marvelously past Phillips to double the Harriers lead.

But, just before half time, a training ground routine was superbly applied to a Droylsden free kick from just outside the area.  Dan Gardner peeled off the end of the line as the ball was played to the right side of the area and he ran in to whip it over the Harriers defence and hit home by Steve Hall to make it 2-1.

The second half started a treat for the Harriers as any comeback nerves were destroyed two minutes in when Matt found the net.  A wonderful Demetriou free kick was lofted in and seemed to only be Matts ball as he raised the highest and powered home over the head of the Bloods keeper.

A shocked Droylsden tried to do something immediately after but they couldn't quite manage it and their dream seemed even further away as on fifty three minutes brilliant play from Dan Bradley in the centre of the park set the Harriers running.  He played a great through ball to Guinan and he chipped it easily over Phillips to make it 4-1.

After a few more mounted attacks from the Harriers the fans saw Guinan denied a second and Michael Briscoe trying to do the best he could, after a scrap in the box, but his shot failed to beat Phillips in the Droylsden goal.

Another positive for the Harriers in the second half was the chance to see month long loan signing James McQuilkin play and, although he didn't have much to do, he did manage to find the net but he was offside so it didn't count.  He did manage to find Bradley though, as he tried to find a second goal, but his curled effort was tipped around the post by Phillips well.

Inside the last ten minutes the Harriers completed their exhibition affair as Guinan got his second goal.  Demetriou took advantage of a good ball to him on the left wing and he charged into the box and saw his cross deflected over the Droylsden keeper.  He was helpless in conceding his fifth goal as Guinan was on hand to tap in and seal a comfortable victory for the Harriers, who barely seemed to get out of first gear.

Now for Monday morning when we can find out who we play in the next round.  It's going to start getting tougher now but on todays showing we know that we can play good football.  We just need to play it over ninety minutes.

 Goals for Harriers: Bradley 7, Wright 34, Matt 47, Guinan 53, 83
 Goal for Droylsden: Hall 40

REFEREE:

Mrs A Fearns Leicestershire