Harriers just about save face at Vauxhall

With a breeze blowing off the Mersey estuary on a clear but cool winter's day, Kidderminster Harriers visited the Wirrall for this FA Trophy clash with Vauxhall Motors.

The Harriers line up included some interesting changes.  The man Evesham Utd viewed as something of a miscreant, Nathan Vaughan, was in goal with Dean Lyness and Danny Lewis injured and Tony Breeden cup tied.  Mike Williams was at left back for his first start after his prolonged break with a hip injury.  Tom Sharpe was at right back in place of Lee Vaughan who was on the bench while Mickey Demetriou started in midfield with Lee Hendrie cup tied.  Marc Williams started up front alongside Jamille Matt.

Harriers began by far the brighter of the two teams.  In the first few moments Matt had a shot at goal that needed a last gasp clearance off the line by the Motors defence then, after four minutes, a scramble inside the Vauxhall area meant the ball fell to Mickey Demetriou who struck it nicely on the volley past Scott Tynan in the home side's goal.

The lead was well deserved and, based on the run of play to that juncture, many a Harriers fan was thinking 'how many?'  However, the lead was in fact short-lived.  A matter of only four minutes later Motors equalised with their first attempt on target.

Craig Mahon laid it off for Leighton McGivern who shot at goal.  Our debutant keeper Nathan Vaughan saved well, but pushed the ball straight back at Michael Briscoe who was helpless and could only bundle the ball into the back of his own net.

Then after fourteen minutes the hosts took, what was at that point, an undeserved lead.  With only their second chance on goal David Mannix's well taken free-kick found Cole Stockton at the near post and the Motors forward then only had to deflect the ball past the Harriers goal keeper which he duly succeeded in doing.

In what was proving to be an open game as a result of poor defending on both sides it was no surprise when Harriers levelled after twenty five minutes.  Marc Williams set up Matt who, under some close attention from the Vauxhall defence, showed a great change of direction and turn of speed.  He gained a couple of yards of space and calmly finished a good move for the boys in red.

A few minutes later Matt had as equally as good a chance.  Free up front, the tall forward tried to lob the ball over the home sides keeper but the effort dropped just wide of the target.

Vauxhall though kept going and there was little Kidderminster could do about the Motormen's third.  Tom Hannigan rose to a well-flighted corner and aimed a firm header into the corner of the Harriers net.

The second half began in the same open vein.  Only about five minutes in McGivern, who was proving a real handful for the Harriers defence, created a couple more good chances for the home side.  Up the other end Jamille Matt also produced a good shot which was well saved by Tynan after more good Marc Williams work.

Vauxhall Motors always looked lively and capable of creating space and scoring on the break.  Accordingly, about ten minutes into the second half, McGivern struck a good shot that Nathan Vaughan could only divert to the feet of Stockton and the Motors' hitman had no hesitation in ramming home the opportunity.

At this point Vauxhall looked good value for their lead but their legs began to tire and they began to lose some of their adventurous intent, sitting back more and more.  Whilst Harriers mustered much of the pressure, initially during this period of the game, they actually created very few clear cut chances.  However, with about seventeen minutes of normal time left on the clock, Lee Vaughan's cross was met with a skilful back header and directed into the corner of the net by Jack Byrne - a very classy finish from the young midfielder who is just beginning to find his feet again.

A few more half chances fell to Harriers and the best of these was probably the opportunity on eighty six minutes when a Dave Hankin cross found Mike Williams who met it with an excellent header towards goal.  The ball though was scrambled off the line by the Motors' defence, namesake Marc mis-kicked and Jack Byrne eventually fired the rebound well over the bar.

With Vauxhall still clinging on at 4-3, at the stroke of full time, the Motormen were penalised for a handball by a defender in a white shirt.  Despite the home sides' and their fans' protests, having come on for Demetriou, sub Nick Wright stepped up and duly converted the spot kick.

Then, in the dying seconds of time added on, Man of the Match McGivern was shown a straight red card for calling the referee a cheat in front of the seated stand.  The Vauxhall number twelve subsequently waited for the referee to leave the field at the end of the game and continued to pursue him in an angry fashion into the officials' changing room.  Harriers-Online's understanding is that because McGivern plays for a BSN club, he will not be suspended until after the replay at Aggborough this coming Tuesday.

All in all it was rather a disappointing performance from the Harriers who this Saturday evening are off into Liverpool for the annual Christmas players' event.  Unusually, there seemed to be little co-ordination in defence and the Vauxhall attackers seemed to be getting too much space in front of goal and on the edge of the Harriers' area.  Perhaps it was to do with the fact that Tom Sharpe started at right back for the first time this campaign instead of Lee Vaughan.

In addition, Demetriou whilst he played ok, did not shine as much as he has been doing when featuring at left back.  He and Matt must be regarded as the finds of the season for Harriers.  Steve Burr will have a bit of headache in deciding whether to start with Demetriou or Williams at left back in the replay on Tuesday.

With some big names already falling at the first hurdle, if Harriers can win Tuesday, they should be able to progress a lot further in this competition.  It is no easy task but the boys in red should be capable of easily overcoming the boys from the Wirrall in the return leg

 Goals for Vauxhall: Briscoe (og) 10, Stockton 16, 56, Hannigan 45,
 Goals for Harriers: Demetriou 5, Matt 22, Byrne 77, Wright (pen) 90

REFEREE:

Mr R Joyce Durham