Harriers do themselves no favours

Under the winter sun (and floodlights for some strange and money wasting reason) the Harriers crumbled to a disappointing draw in a game which failed to entertain the cold Aggborough faithful.

However early signs suggested that the Harriers, brimming with confidence after last week's enthralling cup game at Grimsby, could make a game of Gateshead, first through pressure from Anthony Malbon after seconds and secondly after ex-Reds goalkeeper Adam Bartlett wandered out of his goal and allow Nathan Blissett to take the ball around him on the edge of the box, but then he couldn't find anyone in the box and the danger was averted.

Gateshead came back at the Harriers though, and Josh Gillies hit a powerful shot, which was dipping but not enough to trouble Nathan Vaughan.  Lee Vaughan tried to ignite the first half later on but his enticing cross wasn't met by any of the onrushing forwards.

This was the only highlight of a quiet period in which neither side really attempted to dominate and this, as well as the lack of Harriers tackles, left the fans frustrated.

With five minutes of the half left Kyle Storer nearly broke the deadlock, although it was Nathan Vaughan who almost had to pick the ball up from inside his goal.  A dangerous cross came in from the right flank and Storer attempted to clear it with his head but it came awkwardly off him and, thankfully, off the crossbar.

With a disappointing half about to finish the Harriers came alight and almost broke the deadlock twice through captain Keith Briggs.  James Vincent brought the ball forward and gave it to the moves main player, Anthony Malbon.  He laid it off to Briggs, outside of the area, who then unleashed a wicked shot which Bartlett could only parry to Malbon.  Again Malbon gave the ball back to Briggs and, after some persistence, brought Bartlett out from his goal line.  Briggs fired again but Bartlett did well to recover and his save fell to Nathan Blissett's feet, but he couldn't reshape himself quick enough to react.

This brought an end to a bitterly disappointing half.

The Reds were looking to improve in the second half, and the words said by the coaching staff must have still been ringing in their ears when they took the lead.  Ryan Rowe and Mike Williams combined on the left wing before the latter crossed in superbly to find Anthony Malbon who fired home well to score, despite a slight deflection.

Ten minutes later Blissett looked to double the Reds lead.  A sweet ball over the top found the charging Blissett, who then tried an elusive chip over the Gateshead 'keeper, but Bartlett did well to recover and put the ball out of play.

It was Blissett again who attempted to double the Harriers lead.  His attempt from twenty yards was hit well and Bartlett did well to prevent the goal, but he couldn't prevent a corner.  The corner was lofted in to the near post where Malbon was lurking but he couldn't hook his header round to get a decent attempt on goal.

With twelve minutes left to play the Harriers pushed again.  A good cross field ball to Lee Vaughan allowed the right back to charge and get a cross in to the box where Vincent picked it up.  He dwelled slightly which meant his shot was able to be blocked by a Gateshead defender.

An almost identical situation occurred three minutes later and the ball fell to Vaughan, he beat a player before lofting a cross towards substitute Richard Peniket, on for Malbon, at the back post.  He fired back across towards Blissett but he failed to find the target from a yard out.  It looked harder to miss than score.

With a minute to go before full time the almost inevitable occurred and a needless free kick was awarded to Gateshead.  It led to a goal for Ben Clark.

The ball was well whipped in but the entire defence switched off and allowed the ball to go through and bounce off Clark for a goal completely against the run of play.  At a time that we should have been concentrating on securing the three points.

Gateshead almost stole a victory late on.  Nathan Fisher should've done better when presented with a volley inside the area with any Harriers defender in sight.

This summed up a disappointing game and the Harriers must perform better if they are to produce some cup heroics against Oldham Athletic next week, and in particular concentrate more defensively if they are to stop the likes of Matt Derbyshire and Jose Baxter.  We just have to hope that we can buck our league trend and give Paul Dickov's men a proper game.

 Goal for Harriers: Malbon 46
 Goal for Gateshead: Clark 90

REFEREE:

Mr L Swabey Devon