Harriers fail to penetrate

A pleasant, warm but not hot, August afternoon greeted Kidderminster Harriers trip to Lincoln for this game on the first Saturday of the Blue Square Premier season.

Harriers' main injury problems stemmed from Steve Guinan who was suffering with an ankle injury and Anthony Malbon who was recovering from a chest infection.  Of course Lee Vaughan was beginning his four match ban for being sent off in the final game of the 11/12 season - the three nil home defeat to Mansfield Town.  Malbon started on the bench with Mike Williams at centre half beside big Exodus Geohaghon and with Ryan Austin at right back.

Lincoln began the better of the two teams.  Harriers failed to keep possession of the ball, playing something of a lazy game in continually hoofing the ball forward looking for Ryan Rowe playing as the loan striker.  A few minutes in Callum Gittings and Lincoln's Tom Miller exchanged kicks, both ended up needing treatment but Gittings also ending up with a yellow card.

The first save of the day came from Danny Lewis when Gary Mills' shot deflected off Geohaghon and was comfortably gathered.  Shortly after the Imps' hit-man Rob Duffy looped a volley just over the bar.

On thirty five minutes an inventive corner routine from the home side saw the ball played out to Mills, in space, who sent an effort towards goal but it sailed wide with Lewis diving in an attempt to save.  A few moments later Jamie Taylor's superb finish gave City a half-time lead.

Taylor struck in the thirty ninth minute when he latched onto a long ball forward from Dan Gray.  Instead of heading away to clear Mike Williams allowed the ball to bounce over his shoulder and Taylor clipped the ball over onrushing keeper Danny Lewis.  It was no more than the Imps deserved following a dominant display up to that point in the game.

The hardworking Taylor was a regular thorn in the side of the visitors, as was Lincoln's latest signing, Luke Daley.  The former Plymouth winger, who joined the Imps on non-contract terms on the eve of the season, was joined by a host of other summer signings in the starting line-up.

After conceding the goal Steve Burr's charges came to life and pushed to try and redress the balance.

A long Exodus Geohaghon throw was allowed to bounce dangerously in the area by Lincoln at the end of the half and Ryan Rowe almost punished them as he tried to turn it in.  Unfortunately his effort at the far post went just wide and the half time whistle came all too quickly.

Steve Burr took action to pep up his team at the start of the second half, replacing Mickey Demetriou with Jack Byrne, putting Vincent at right back, moving Williams to left back and switching Austin back to centre half.  Harriers though almost found themselves 2-0 down soon after the re-start as Taylor tangled legs with Ryan Austin and looked to shoot before Lewis came and claimed the ball.

Shortly afterwards Marvin Johnson also came on for Callum Gittings and the wideman's pace started to worry the home defence.

Eight minutes into the second half the City keeper, Paul Farman, was forced into one of his first saves of the afternoon.  Austin was teed up from a free kick around twenty yards out in the centre of the home side's goal.  His powerful drive was straight at the goalkeeper who got behind it well.

Close to the hour mark Farman was there to deny Harriers again with a quick-double save, Harriers slowly coming further into the game.

A mass scramble with about seventy on the clock almost got the visitors an equaliser and it was again set off by a Geohaghon throw in.  Keith Briggs and Ryan Rowe both had stabs but couldn't find a way past Farman or his defence.

Rowe then came close, meeting Danny Pilkington's free-kick, with a quick reaction shot which the home side keeper managed to parry away.  Rowe had another chance after being set-up by the returning Keith Briggs but his shot was smothered by the Lincoln back line.
Harriers then introduced Anthony Malbon in place of Ricky Shakes.

As the Worcestershire team pressed for an equaliser Lincoln tried to take advantage of the space behind their opponents defence.  Substitute Jake Sheridan should have done better when he shot tamely at Lewis.  At the other end Marvin Johnson then saw a left-footed effort force Farman to make a desperate save at his near post.

With six minutes of time added on, Burr's charges pushed for a goal but Malbon's mis-hit effort from distance after a fine driving run was the closest they came.

Eventually time ran out for Harriers.  In the first half, until the Lincoln goal was scored, the Aggborough outfit looked second best.  They then kept possession and began to control the game more as Lincoln sat back.

However Harriers only really looked as though they were going to penetrate the Lincoln defence when Malbon came on and by then it was largely too late - Lincoln had mustered enough spirit and belief to enable them to hang on.

 Goal for Lincoln: Taylor 39

REFEREE:

Mr K Evans Manchester