Harriers get their first win in the bag and on the road

The Harriers got their season underway at Lincoln City tonight with a fine, hard fought win against a side relegated from the Football League last season.  Callum Gittings got the all important goal for us when he found himself well placed to nod home Kyle Storers free kick just before half time.

Steve Burr elected to make no changes from the side that lost so poorly at home to Gateshead on Saturday and that faith in his side was confirmed in the best way possible.  The bench also remained unchanged too and later on the same subs that came on at Aggborough were again utilised at Lincoln.  For the hosts Simon Russell was making an appearance.  I wonder if he waved to the Harriers fans?

Following a scrappy start the Harriers started to take command and the first chance of the game soon fell our way when Marc Williams flicked a header goalwards but the City keeper, Joe Anyon, managed to push it onto the post and out for a corner.  Steve Guinan was the next to try for us some time later but his weak header was straight at Anyon and he collected easily enough.

Just after that City had their first real attempt on Danny Lewis' goal when the former Tamworth striker, Kyle Perry, sent a distant shot goalwards but it sailed well over the bar and failed to trouble the Harriers keeper at all.  Marc Williams had another try at beating the keeper but again Anyon managed to push his shot around the post, this time from twenty yards out.  Seconds later came the only, all important, goal of the game.

Josh Gowling fouled Gittings on the edge of the area.  Up stepped Kyle Storer to send the free kick sailing towards the far post where the victim of the tackle was on hand to stoop and nod it into the back of the net and so give the Harriers an un-assailable lead.  We could have been going into the break two goals to the good but Steve Guinan somehow contrived to miss from a few yards out after Nick Wright set him up.

Following the break the game re-started quietly with City not seemingly interested in getting back on level terms straight away.  Kyle Perry headed wide of the post and then soon after John Nutter sent a free kick sailing high over the goal.  That seemed to sum up Lincolns' target practice, never quite on target.

Mid way through the half and with neither team seeming able to change the game we were treated to a mass substitution.  In one fell swoop the City gaffer, Steve Tilson, took off Simon Russell, Sam Smith and Gavin McCullum in exchange for Brad Barraclough, Josh O'Keefe and Jamie Taylor.  Not wanting to feel left out Steve Burr took off Guinan and sent on Jamille Matt to do his stuff.

Within seconds Matt had been fouled but the free kick came to nothing and then City had their first real attack on goal when two of the subs, O'Keefe and Barraclough, managed to break through the Harriers defence but the latter just failed to connect with the formers cross across the face of the goal.

We made a second sub just after that close shave and Scott Phelan came on for Callum Gittings in an effort to grab hold of the midfield once more.

We had another close shave soon after but this one came from an error when Marc Williams somehow contrived to attempt a clearance but the ball went back towards Danny Lewis.  Perry intercepted the ball but again he sent it over the bar much to the relief of the eighty four Harriers in attendance.

Another, final, change was made by the Harriers and Luke Medley came on for Nick Wright.   Almost straight away Medley found himself to be the victim of a crude challenge from Ali Fuseini and that's when sparks started to fly with a rash of bookings following on.

Medley had got himself into an altercation with Adam Watts out of sight of the referee.  Following a consultation with his assistant Mr Evans booked both players and then added six minutes onto the end of the game.

It was backs to the wall but eventually the final whistle went and the Harriers celebrated a fine victory in a game that earlier in the evening many were forecasting defeat.  We're away again on Saturday at Cambridge, can we repeat tonights result and get another three points at the Abbey?

 Goal for Harriers: Gittings 42

REFEREE:

Mr K Evans Lancashire