Harriers miss last gasp penalty and crash out

The Harriers went crashing out of this seasons FA Trophy when they lost to a disputed penalty scored by Bromley just before half time.  With time running out we were handed a late lifeline with a penalty of our own a minute from time but Anthony Malbon, not our recognised spot kick taker, missed it and so we play no further part in any real cup games this season.

Even before the game started we faced an upset to the team when Danny Pilkington was withdrawn with a re-occurence of his thigh injury.  Obviously he had been rushed back yet again and yet again had failed to complete a game.  Ricky Shakes replaced him for his first start since the beginning of the season while Steve Guinan took the vacant place on the bench.

It was Shakes who was to make the most of his given chance and he tested the former Histon keeper, Joe Welch, early on with a floated cross that the keeper palmed over the bar.  Soon after Anthony Malbon tested the Bromley man too with a free kick and then put a header just wide.

Callum Gittings was even closer to opening the scoring in the Harriers favour just five minutes before the break.  He broke through the hesitant Bromley defence and sent a curling shot curling narrowly around the upright.  If that had gone in it may have changed the outcome of the game but that was changed by a dubious referee giving a dubious penalty after Pierre Joseph-Dubious was adjudged to have been fouled by Josh Gowling.

With the Harriers players protesting that Dubious has dived the referee ignored that to allow Danny Waldren to give Bromley the lead from the spot kick.

The Harriers tried to rally for the second half.  A back heel from James Vincent surprised Welch but, seeing it late, he still managed to get to it.  Mickey Demetriou forced the keeper into another good save soon after when his fierce shot forced him into another fine save for the rebound to fall Ricky Shakes way but the forgotten wingman fired straight at the keeper.

Shakes was replaced by Ryan Rowe soon after as Steve Burr attempted to try something different.

Bromley looked for ways to increase their lead but the Harriers defence was standing firm and limiting them to shots from distance or to no shots at all.  Jamille Matt went close for us again when he fired over the bar and that was to be his last input of the day as Burr made two more substitutions.  Nathan Blissett came on for Jamma while Mike Williams made a rare appearance when he replaced Callum Gittings.

Nathan almost scored with his first touch of the ball but his shot was cleared off the line by Sanchez Ming.

Bromley almost made the game secure with five minutes remaining.  Joe Pigott led the counter attack and as the home side swarmed forward but instead of giving the ball to the better placed Al Fuseini he chose to go it alone and his effort was deflected just wide.

Bromley had another great opportunity to seal the win when substitute Aaron Rhule obligingly pulled the ball back for Pigott but he took just too long over it and the ball was cleared.

With four minutes of added time it looked like our time was running out and we were in need of a miracle to get Bromley back to Aggborough for a replay on Tuesday.  That miracle suddenly came from no where when Waldren stupidly fouled Josh Gowling in the penalty area.

Up stepped Anthony Malbon to save the Harriers blushes and give us an undeserved draw.

Malbon missed.  Trophy run over.

 Goal for Bromley: Waldren (pen) 44

REFEREE:

Mr R Whitton Essex