Harriers lose out on the title

The Harriers will have to settle for second spot in the Conference after they relegated the troublesome Stockport County but could do nothing about Mansfields title winning victory at home to Wrexham today.  Despite the large score line in front of almost 6500 fans the game will be remembered for a half hour long delay due to crowd trouble from Stockport fans 'sitting' in the East Stand.

Both teams were looking for results, both on the Aggborough pitch and elsewhere, to go their way and this led to an inevitable nervy start.  The first half lacked chances throughout although the Harriers midfield occasionally set Anthony Malbon and Michael Gash up with half chances they were just running into a solid Stockport defence.

Stockport had come looking for a goal to sit on and around the half hour mark Sean Newton looked to provide his relegation threatened side with the opener but his powerful shot went comfortably wide with no qualms from Danny Lewis.  Matt Mainwaring was also looking to score and somer of his efforts from long range went too close for comfort.

Danny Lewis, though, had to be nimble to deal with the Hatters next chance.  It was Newton again who took aim and sent his free kick goal wards which took Lewis by surprise but he did well to tip it over the bar.

The Carpet Men's first real chance fell to captain Kyle Storer, amid penalty shouts, he received the ball on the edge of the box and curled one towards the top corner but he was unlucky to see his shot come back off the crossbar.

The County crossbar was hit again soon before the break.  Marvin Johnson received the ball out wide and pulled his cross in on the ground and it came off Jordan Fagbola and onto the crossbar.

The teams went into the break with the Harriers waiting to be told that Mansfield had scored just before half time.  That one was true because earlier in the game cheers rang around the Harriers fans twice with the supposed news that Wrexham had scored two quick goals to give us false hope.

In fact it appeared to be the BBC getting their games mixed up and it was actually the Grimsby v Newport game where two quick goals had been scored.

The half started with a bang as Malbon let rip from inside the box but it trickled wide to goalkeeper Ian Ormson's relief.  The Harriers pressure was kept on a high and this time it was Josh Gowling who had the opportunity to open the scoring.  Danny Jackmans in swinging free kick was met by the towering centre back but his header was stopped by the legs of Ormson.

Fifty-one minutes in and the deadlock was broken.  Lee Vaughan played a lovely ball over the top for Malbon to chase and the striker duly obliged.  He latched onto it and powered his shot past Ormson to send the crowd wild.

This signalled the start of the half hour long battle with fans of Stockport County as they showed their anger at their position.  A small set of their 1300 strong support invaded the pitch and took aim at Lee Vaughan as well as other players of both sides before the referee escorted the players off the pitch.

Half an hour later the incident was policed and the players were ready to start again after a small warm up.  The Harriers fans had their reward for their patience immediately though when Malbon doubled the Reds lead.

In very similar circumstances to his first goal Malbon was put through by himself and he then cut back on his left, drawing the keeper out, before calmly slotting home.

It wasn't long until it became three and this time Chey Dunkley took aim to put the game beyond any hope for Stockport.  A brilliant corner was whipped in, Stockport failed to deal with it and Chey did the rest.

As news of Mansfield's championship win at Field Mill arrived the Reds knew their fate lay at the Racehourse Ground, Wrexham, on Tuesday before a second leg at Aggborough Sunday-week.

Due to the halt in play there was still plenty of action to unfold at Aggborough and it started with the ever reliable Danny Lewis.  His double save from Javan Vidal and an Alex Kenyon header kept the score line at 3-0.

With the game closing out and our fate known Burr brought Anthony Malbon off and Martin Devaney on and within twenty seconds of the winger's introduction he had found the net.  Stockport again failed to deal with a Harriers corner and Devaney nodded in from the slightest of angles.

Before the game was up the Harriers were awarded a penalty by referee Michael Bull after Devaney was tripped inside the box.  Following some deliberation Vaughan was the chosen man but his shot was the right height for Ormson and easily saved.

The game fizzled out and it finished 4-0 to the Carpet Men.

Some fans may be looking at the first ten games, others at the sleepy defence against Woking in the recent 2-2 draw at Aggborough or the defeat in the fogbound game against Gateshead that would normally never had been played, but everyone must now keep their heads up and look ahead to a double header against Wrexham.

Many believe the second placed team should go up with the Champions, others will think we are favourites, but only two 'cup finals' will be good enough against the team from North Wales as the second place team look to regain their league status and book a final date with either Newport or Grimsby on Sunday 5th May.

See you there.

 Goals for Harriers: Malbon 51, 53, Dunkley 57, Devaney 75

REFEREE:

Mr M Bull Essex