Tamworth 0 Harriers 1
Date: 04-12-12
Venue: The Lamb
att: 1031
away fans: 289
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Thirty three years of hurt ends tonight
Report by Steve Williams
The Harriers ended a thirty three year spell of disappointment at Tamworth's Lamb Ground when a late Ryan Rowe header saw the Reds gain their fourth successive league win.
Due to five yellow cards for Keith Briggs and Callim Gittings they were forced to sit the game out. In came James Vincent and Nathan Blissett in their place with Anthony Malbon moving wide to make room for Blissett.
The Reds started the better with some good play from Marvin Johnson. Firstly he was sent roaring down the wing and crossed to find Jamille Matt on the edge of the box, but his effort went well over the bar. Secondly he reached a cross from Mickey Demetriou and flicked it towards goal but this time it was only just over Jamie Severn's bar.
Despite this start the Lambs were the team to pile the most pressure on the opposing goal. Firstly, it was Tamworth's chance to fire over after George Baldock found it too easy to get round the Harriers defence and get his shot off, but Danny Lewis wasn't tested.
After this the home side were denied by two goal line clearances. Firstly a fearsome shot after a scrap in the Reds box found a nonchalant Kyle Storer at the near post. The ball hit him and allowed Danny Lewis to breathe sigh of relief. Despite this Lewis, who didn't seem to want to dive on the hard, freezing pitch, had to rely on one of his outfield players again. This time Lee Vaughan steered away from the back post after the Lambs' Richard Tait turned and fired a shot past Lewis.
The second half belonged to the Harriers though as they heaped pressure on Severn's net more as the game went on.
Firstly the onrushing Lee Vaughan struck fiercely and the keeper did well to keep a hold of it after it took a deflection. The Harriers tried to break the deadlock soon after when Marvin Johnson, pushing up again, met Demetriou's cross which came thumping back off the post and out for a goal kick, despite Storer's best efforts to change the referees mind.
Trying to change the game, Tamworth brought on ex-Red Tommy Wright and Matt Regan with the latter replacing the injured skipper, Richard Tait. They were accompanied a little later by Ryan Rowe who came on for Nathan Blissett.
With no real further action Tamworth took a last throw of the dice and bought on Charlie Collins in place of Adriano Moké. That move backfired big time though when soon after there was a lengthy stoppage for an unfortunate injury to Scott Barrow. Marvin Johnson crossed from the wing and found Rowe in the box, but when Barrow and Sam Oji went up together to put the ball out for a corner Barrow fell badly and, in obvious pain, and had to leave the pitch on a stretcher, leaving the home side with just ten men.
Seven minutes from normal time it was Johnson again who was providing an attacking threat as he fired a volley past goalkeeper Severn but this time Tamworth had their own goal line clearance from former Harrier Lloyd Kerry to be thankful for.
In the last minute of normal time, before an extra seven minutes was added, the Harriers got their breakthrough when Rowe capitalised on an error to send the ball home. Late substitute Ricky Shakes crossed in from the right and via a small scrap it fell in front of Rowe who coolly finished with his head to send the Harriers roaring up the table to eighth spot, a position that seemed all of dream not too long a go.
So after thirty three the Harriers finally got three points at Tamworth. And about time to!
Goal for Harriers: Rowe 90
The Harriers Online MotM is:
Josh Gowling
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Tamworth |
goals |
subs |
cards |
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Harriers |
goals |
subs |
cards |
Severn |
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Lewis |
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Tait |
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L Vaughan |
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Kelly |
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Demetriou |
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Baldock |
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Storer |
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Courtney |
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Dunkley |
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Oji |
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Gowling |
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Cunnington |
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Malbon |
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Till |
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Vincent |
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Barrow |
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Matt |
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Moké |
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Blissett |
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Kerry |
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Johnson |
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SUBS: |
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SUBS: |
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Breeden |
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N Vaughan |
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Regan |
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Williams |
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Wright |
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Shakes |
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James |
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Rowe |
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Collins |
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Guinan |
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REFEREE:
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Mr L Swabey
Devon
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