Harriers through to next round of the Trophy

Two early Harriers goals gave them a second round game against Droylsden to look forward to, after controllably defeating Vauxhall Motors in this FA Trophy first round replay.  A game replayed due to the 4-4 draw at Rivacre Park on Saturday.

Harriers started better, in a theme which continued throughout the encounter, and it was Marc Williams who broke through the Vauxhall defence first and found himself one-on-one with the Vauxhall 'keeper, Scott Tynan, but his shot went wide of the goal.  This was followed by another chance where an inviting Dave Hankin cross wasn't met by any of the onrushing strikers trying to break the deadlock.

This was achieved shortly after though when a Callum Gittings pass found Marc Williams in the box, who shot well, but only to be parried by the 'keeper back to Jamille Matt who turned well to thunder his shot into the net.  The Harriers were a goal to the good.

The Harriers continued with this pressure and almost doubled their lead when Matt knocked down a pass into the path of Marc Williams, but again he shot wide.

We doubled our lead after a wonderful piece of skill allowed Kyle Storer to find the net.  Marc Williams received the ball and he played a delightful pass in for Storer, who chested the ball, flicked it over his head and turned to power the ball past the helpless Vauxhall 'keeper.

The game then began to settle but with the Harriers still on top.  The next chance to trouble Vauxhall came from Dave Hankin, who managed to receive the ball and take it round the 'keeper, but he got back just in time to stop his shot from giving the Harriers a third goal.  Then a high on confidence Kyle Storer had the final chance of the half, a long range effort going wide.

Surprisingly Vauxhall had the first chance of the second period, and also started the better, after Leighton McGivern was through on goal, but his effort didn't trouble the gloves of Nathan Vaughan.

This was only a short period of time though and as the half went on the Harriers found their rhythm again and continued to dominate, with Storer and Jack Byrne playing a key role in the centre of midfield.  It was Storer who produced the next chance for the Harriers when a well worked corner found him on the edge of the box, but his volleyed shot went just over.

Ten minutes into the half Harriers had their best chance yet to go three up after Vauxhall had almost converted the ball into their own net.  The corner that came from that mistake gave the unmarked Matt the chance to head in a goal, but it grazed the post as it went wide.  He then had a second chance just after, but his effort from outside the box was saved.

The Harriers were still producing chances throughout the match.  Firstly through Marc Williams after he broke through the defence but his heavy touch allowed the keeper to pounce on it and prevent him from scoring.  Then after that the ball found its way out to Dave Hankin on the right wing, where he decided to shoot from an intricate angle and only narrowly hit it over.

Kyle Storer then took a free kick for the Harriers on the edge of the area but his wonderful curling effort hit the bar and bounced over.

In added time the Harriers did put the ball in the net for a third time but Steve Guinan, on for Marc Williams, was ruled offside.  A Mickey Demetriou free kick came in and headed in back towards Tynan but the linesman again judged him to be offside.

So the Harriers convincingly won 2-0, but not inspiringly, and head on to the next league match at York City next Monday with more confidence and also a potential cup run in their hands when we meet lower league Droylsden in the New Year

 Goals for Harriers: Matt 14, Storer 24

REFEREE:

Mrs A Fearns Leicestershire