Blissett bags a brace

On a dry, early November evening, Kidderminster Harriers paid a visit to the Kingfield Stadium for this important tie in the Blue Square Premier league against Woking.  Harriers, languishing just above the drop zone, were coming off a run of nine games unbeaten but unfortunately only three of those games had produced wins for the boys from Worcestershire.

Harriers took the field with the same 4-3-3 formation that they had started with in recent weeks.  The only change from the 2-0 loss to Oldham in the FA Cup the previous Saturday was the more attacking Mickey Demetriou replacing Mike Williams at left back.

The visitors were slow out of the blocks and immediately found themselves under pressure.  In the very first minute Bradley Bubb missed a good opportunity to score before Lee Sawyer fired home with a stinging finish following good interplay after just three minutes.  The Harriers defence had been opened up after a poor attempt to get the ball away from Mickey Demetriou.

Nonetheless Demetriou came close to making amends with about fourteen minutes on the clock but unfortunately his effort landed just wide.

As the quarter hour mark came and went the boys from Worcestershire began to get more possession and get back into the game.  In particular Anthony Malbon was creating havoc for Woking down the Harriers right wing.  He delivered a couple of inch perfect crosses and the second found Nathan Blissett at the front post close in on goal and he had the fairly simple task of powering home a header to open his account for the Harriers.

The game continued to be very open with lots of mistakes and attacking play from both sides.  Then, just before the half hour mark, Ryan Rowe found a way through the Woking defence only to be clipped and pulled back when in front of goal by Adam Newton.  The offence went unpunished bar the awarding of a penalty.  Lee Vaughan tried to place the spot kick to the right of goalkeeper, Aaron Howe, but it was at an easily saveable height.  Howe got a strong punch to the ball to keep it out and that lifted the home side and the 1168 strong crowd.

Harriers did though end up getting their second to make it 2-1 shortly afterwards.  After something of a scramble in the Woking penalty area, Rowe picked up the ball with his back to goal, turned as only Rowe can and shot at goal.  Howe parried the ball to the feet of Blissett who had the simple task of turning the ball powerfully into an open goal from only a few yards yard out.

Woking again began the second half the strongest.  After forty nine minutes they should have levelled.  Kevin Betsy played well in front of the visiting defence before shooting at Nathan Vaughan.  The goalkeeper deflected the ball to Gavin McCallum (once on trial at Aggborough) but he was then denied in turn by a superb block from Lee Vaughan.

Harriers came under increasing pressure as they tried to defend their lead.  For a while the Carpetmen held out but on sixty five minutes Woking finally levelled the scores.

A poor kick out from Nathan Vaughan did not clear the half way line and Josh Gowling found himself in a one on one situation with Bradley Bubb.  Gowling then appeared to slip whilst claiming he was fouled and Bubb simply had to lob Nathan Vaughan to make it 2-2.

Harriers came charging back and almost straight away Kyle Storer whipped in a superb free-kick from the corner of the box that looked like it might sneak in under the bar.  Unfortunately for Burr's men though Howe got a hand to it to push it over the horizontal.

Richard Peniket came on as substitute for Rowe and shortly afterwards he had a good chance as he headed over the bar.

Nathan Blissett also continued to be a danger to the home side.  With about ten minutes to go he almost sealed his hat trick and that all important victory for the Harriers.  After some great play down the right flank he only had the goalkeeper to beat but Howe did exceptionally well to get down to his powerful shot and keep it out but conceded a corner.

At the other end McCallum might have got all three points for Woking but with just five minutes left he blazed over on the angle despite being placed well enough to do much better.

From this game alone it was obvious why Woking hold both the best scoring and worst defensive records of the entire Blue Square Bet Premier.  Unfortunately Harriers could not capitalise solely on the latter.  Whilst in past years the Aggborough outfit might have expected to win a fixture such as this, an away draw this time around against a team ten places or so higher up in the league has to be put into context.

Harriers midfield, and forward line, generally had a good game but the ball was given away too cheaply on occasions by both teams and unusually there was some arguing in the Harriers defence and a number of mistakes, some of which were more costly than others.

Nonetheless, Harriers have now climbed out of the danger relegation zone on goal difference and if Steve Burr's charges can secure a win on Saturday at home against bottom club Nuneaton, further progress up the table should result.

 Goals for Woking: Sawyer 3, Bubb 65
 Goals for Harriers: Blissett 16, 42

REFEREE:

Mr J Amey Dorset