Harriers grab a great win at Lincoln

With the season almost at an end it looks likely that whatever we do results wise we'll end up getting relegated anyway but today the lads went to Lincoln, a tough place to go, and came back with all three points thanks to a second half James McQuilkin brace.  It just shows that you should never give up and if we could maintain that attitude for the remaining eight games then at least we can go down with heads held high.

Not having played for two weeks the side would have been a little rusty but, with the addition of a new keeper, Max O'Leary from Bristol City, we didn't look too bad.  A sprinted start from both sides saw O'Leary making the first save as he collected the ball after a decent shot from Matt Sparrow but it was the Harriers having the best of the first half of the half without being able to capitalise on what they created.  Ben Whitfield had two attempts to open the scoring but his shots went wide and then the second went over.

Luke Maxwell tried his luck from distance twenty minutes in but the City keeper Paul Farman managed to save his deflected shot just before, against the run of play, Lincoln opened the scoring.  Their leading scorer Matt Rhead had already come close with a header that was saved by our new keeper and then another header of his was met by Jack Muldoon and buried into the back of the Harriers net.

We tried to respond but the impetus had been lost and for the remainder of the half we struggled to create anything worthwhile as Arthur Gnahoua tried to prompt his team mates without any luck.  Muldoon went close again with a long range strike but it went well over the bar.

After the break we bought on James McQuilkin in place of Evan Garnett in an effort to give a bit of pace to the front line.  Ben Whitfield had the first chance of the half when he burst out of midfield with the ball at his feet but when he got in a position to shoot he snatched at it and pulled his shot wide of Farmans goal.

McQuilkin then started to produce some moves and went close to scoring twice.  The first he also snatched at and sent his shot wide but the second was better as his shot skimmed slightly over the bar.

Whitfield, again, went close as Lincoln began to wilt under the pressure.  Gnahoua played the ball in for Whitfield to strike the ball hard but Farman managed to get his fingers to it and tip it around the post and then a few minutes later the City keeper found himself facing the on loan Bournemouth striker again as he scooped up a downward header after Lewis Kinsella had sent the ball over perfectly for him.  Fifteen minutes from the end the Harriers drew level.

We were given a free kick well outside the area after Gnahoua was bought down by Luke Waterfall.  McQuilkin lined it up and his looping kick sailed into the corner of the net too far away for Farman to reach even though he dived full length across the goal.  Now we were back on equal terms we had to go for it, grab the winner and we almost did that when Luke Maxwell fired just over the bar.

Lincoln responded with a wild shot from substitute George Maris that went well over the bar and then from Robbie McDaid who missed an open goal after connecting with the ball at the far post.  After that we took our chance and went into the lead.

Whitfield, again, broke free from his markers and advanced on goal but this time his shot was on target and stung Farmans hands to rebound into the path of the alert McQuilkin who headed the ball into the net and glory.

Lincoln, sensing they were about to be beaten, rallied and tried to rescue the game.  Maris again went close with a shot that O'Leary saved and then the new keeper really excelled himself when he somehow managed tyo grab hold of Chris Bush's long range shot at the foot of the post as other City players tried to force the ball over the line.

We managed to hold on for what was our second away win of the season.  We know it's probably all too late now but it's still good to see the Harriers win on the road.

 Goal for Lincoln: Muldoon 27
 Goals for Harriers: McQuilkin 72, 83

REFEREE:

Mr J Whiteley W Yorkshire