A Chey Dunkley brace sets the Harriers on their way

Three headed goals secured a 3-0 victory for the Harriers over bogey side Alfreton Town as football returned to Aggborough for the 2014/2015 season.

Kevin Nicholson, who demonstrated his dead-ball prowess, made his home debut as did Craig Reid and Jared Hodgkiss.  There were only two changes from the side that held Lincoln City to a 0-0 draw on the opening day at Sincil Bank as Callum Gittings and Ahmed Obeng were omitted from the side in favour of Jack Byrne and Marvin Johnson.

The first gilt-edged chance of the game fell to the home side, Reid's shot from a tight angle caused some home fans to prematurely celebrate the deadlock being broken, but his effort fell just wide of the far post.  Yet there wasn't a long wait for the first goal as midway through the first half the Harriers took the lead when Kyle Storer whipped a corner in and Chey Dunkley steamed in at the far post to power a header past Alfreton goalkeeper Jon Harris-Stewart.

The Harriers continued to attempt to unlock the opposition but were unable to make any meaningful efforts on the Alfreton goal, while the visitors couldn't break through an organised and resolute Kidderminster defence.

The second half saw the home side turn up the pressure, having more of the play with Alfreton reduced to entrenchment inside their own half.  It wasn't long before the lead was doubled as a Nicholson cross was met by Dunkley for the second time to double his seasons goal tally, heading the ball into the bottom corner.  Dunkley was on for an un-expected hat trick but, sadly, that wasn't to be.

Midfielder Aman Verma was then the next to have his chance on goal hitting a drive from twenty yards towards goal, catching Harris-Stewart off-guard, but the visiting goalkeeper was able to tip the ball over the bar as the ball arrowed towards the top left corner of the goal.

Home fans could be forgiven for thinking that the goal-scoring was over for the day but when Jared Hodgkiss managed to cross the ball into the area, with the Harriers in control Marvin Johnson met the ball with his head to send it screaming into the goal.

The performance wasn't quite the fast-paced football that was often exhibited under the last long-serving Harriers manager Steve Burr, but the organisation of the side was something that hadn't been seen for some time and the defence rarely looked under pressure or stretched.  A variety of methods of build-up appear to be in the Kidderminster locker going forward, and despite initial concerns about a mediocre season ahead, at this early stage there looks to be a lot of promise about the Harriers side going into the next forty four games.

Another three points at home to Dartford on Saturday will give us a start that many fans would not have expected a few weeks ago.

 Goals for Harriers: Dunkley 24, 61, Johnson 84

REFEREE:

Mr B Toner Blackburn