Harriers fail to storm to victory

On what was an initially dull but warm afternoon, Kidderminster Harriers paid their first trip for a few seasons to the Jakemans Stadium - home of Boston United FC.  Boston of course had had their own financial troubles previously a few years ago, only to be bailed out by a rich benefactor at the eleventh hour.

Harriers were unchanged save for the enforced absence of Ashley Carter who had been red carded due to an apparently petulant incident in the preceding fixture against Stalybridge Celtic.  As is usually the case these days, Harriers started well with the busy Ryan Croasdale looking like the play maker Harriers were desperately seeking, sat in front of the back four and moving the ball around at will.

As early as the third minute, Mani Dieseruvwe won a 50:50 with the home side's keeper and poked the ball towards goal just to see it cleared before it could roll over the goal line by Joe Robinson.  However, hero was soon to turn villain as within seconds the Carpetmen had taken the lead.  A threatening Zaine Francis-Angol cross could only be turned past his own goalkeeper by the on loan Boston defender Robinson.

Harriers 1 Boston 0.

Even after the goal the Harriers continued to press with some great work by Tyrone Williams and Tyrell Waite.  In the twelth minute Croasdale let rip with a stinger but his strong shot was parried away by Christian Dibble in the home side's goal with a feline like leap.  A save out of the top (cat) draw.

As the quarter hour mark came and went the Pilgrims did get more into the game though.  A short range free kick from the edge of the area was driven strongly by Joe Maguire but Sam Hornby in the Red's goal saved well as he palmed the ball away.

Then what began as a dry afternoon started to go very much downhill weatherwise.  The rain started lashing the floodlights and the flashes of lightning could be seen getting ever closer to the York Road stadium.

On twenty five minutes Jay Rollins tried to force home a Jason St Juste free kick but the effort was well over the target.

After that John Eustace's boys again began to dominate.  On the half hour Dieseruvwe showed great skill in holding up play before laying it off to Tyrell Waite.  Waite lashed a shot at goal that Dibble skilfully managed to divert into the side netting.  That was followed by another great Dibble save as Arthur Gnahoua skipped the challenges and burst into the area only to see his goalward effort tipped away.

Just before half time James McQuilkin again got his name in the referee's notebook and once more it was for kicking the ball away at a set piece.  The tireless McQuilkin was again all over the pitch throughout the match but one more card and he will be sidelined.  That would be a crying shame because Harriers badly need him.

At this point the referee seemed to have become overly picky blowing his whistle for the slightest contact and he seemed to decide to book players from either side any time they committed a foul with no allowance whatsoever for the bad conditions.

In any event at half time the lads from Kidderminster deservedly went in 1-0 up.

By the time the players came out for the second half the rain was coming down in torrents, the lightning was flashing all around the ground and the thunder was making everyone jumpy.  There was clearly good cause to suspend the play due to the possible danger to the players but the officials decided the match should continue.

Rollins had the first shot of the half shortly after the break but it was well saved by Hornby.  Then it was Harriers' turn as they broke in numbers however Dieseruvwe's final effort was well over the target.

A period of play then followed where the away team were in total control and did everything they could to display their advantage bar score.  On fifty eight minutes Gnahoua and McQuilkin combined for the latter to shoot on the angle but Dibble again managed to save.  On sixty minutes it was pinball in the homes sides' penalty area.  Gnahoua hit the woodwork and McQuilkin followed up with two efforts, both being blocked by Robinson and rebounding off the line.

In the sixty seventh minute another great Harriers opportunity.  Elton N'Gwatala broke clear and played in Waite only once more for him to see his shot pushed away for a corner by the Pilgrim's shot stopper extraordinaire.

At this point the rain was getting heavier and heavier and the lightning more and more intense but the play went on.  To be fair the pitch held up well with only one flooded area near the left corner flag at the Harriers' end.

With thirteen minutes of normal time to go Wayne Thomas came on for N'Gwatala and soon after nearly scored.  He nearly slotted home a cool finish but again saw his attempt well saved by the Home Guard.

As punishment for not putting the game to bed the visitors' hearts were then broken in the eighty fifth minute.  The home side's captain, Joe Maguire, rose to meet and head in a well placed corner.

Harriers 1 Boston 1.

With the local crowd now enlivened and the weather totally inclement to say the least, it was Boston who pushed forward in the final few minutes but Harriers held out for a draw in a game that they really should have won easily.

Play like that and our boys will win more than they will draw or lose.  However, something needs to be done about set pieces and in particular corners.  The Harriers must have had about twenty corners but few if any posed any real threat to the home goal.  Definitely something to work on.

In the meantime onwards to the home game against Altrincham tomorrow on Bank Holiday Monday.

 Goal for Boston: Maguire 84
 Goal for Harriers: Robinson 3 (og)

REFEREE:

Mr A Tankard Sheffield