Harriers battle but still can't score

Another day.  Another away defeat.  That's not the full story though because this was a game that we didn't deserve to lose even though the goal that we gave away was probably preventable when a short pass from Darryl Knights on the half way line was understruck and gratefully scooped up by the FC Utd wideman George Thompson to take on a slot home past a returning Sam Hornby.  Apart from that error we did little wrong apart from score.

This was our first ever visit to FC Utd and their new stadium and it was a big chance to avenge the earlier home defeat inflicted by them back in October.  It was also a big chance to keep in contact with AFC Fylde at the top and possibly go above Salford City in second spot and following our midweek defeat at Brackley John Eustace made some changes to the starting eleven.

At the back in came Josh Ezewele in place of Tyrone Williams and in midfield Darryl Knights in place of the injured Elton N'Gwatala.  Much to many fans dismay Tyrell Waite was given another chance to convince us he's a better option that Sam Austin.

With the changes we started the game with obvious intentions to get a positive result and took control from the off.  As early as the fourth minute we mounted an attack on the FC goal when Andre Brown swivelled and shot only to watch the ball go just wide.  We came close again from a corner that was cleared as was a shot from Arthur Gnahoua but it was when a call for a penalty, due to a perceived handball, was turned down did we begin to think this was going to be another of those games. That theory was proved when that mistake by Darryl happened and FC took the lead against the run of play.  That was about it from them and their strikers went back into their shell for the remainder of the half.

We had more chances fall our way with the pick of them being a Gnahoua shot forcing the keeper, Dave Carnell, into a smart stop.

Eustace rang the early changes at the start of the second half with Sam Austin and Liam Truslove coming on for Andre Brown and Darryl Knights respectively.  The idea was to get some quality balls into the box and hope that Truslove could latch onto one, or two.

FC came out of their shell for a short while with the goalscorer, Thomson, getting an early sight of goal that Hornby did well to deal with but it was Tyrell Waite who was in action first for the Harriers when he closed in on goal but the keeper wa quick to react and snuffed the chance out before he could shoot.

Austin was working his magic, and getting his claim for a starting place more credence, with a succession of crosses into the FC box but when Truslove got onto the end of one he could only send it wide.  The a rare attack from the hosts Nathan Lowe resulted in a corner but that was cleared off the line.  From that clearance we mounted an attack that ended in Ryan Croasdale trying his luck from distance but that too went wide.

With that on came Mani Dieseruvwe for Josh Ezewele and with a stronger frontline we went for broke.  Attempts on Carnells goal came peppering in and the keeper did very well to deal with them all leaving the Harriers frustrated.  Truslove, Gnahoua and Truslove again all tried to get the ball into the back of the net but it wasn't going to be our day and even with five minutes time added on we couldn't get that point that would have taken us back above Salford.

Thankfully for us the rest of the games involving the clubs near the top went our way.  Salford lost at Tamworth, Darlington rescued a late point at Worcester and in the play-off contenders game Stockport and Chorley fought out a scoreless draw.  Fylde also dropped points at Harrogate and it could have been all three for the home side if hat trick hero Simon Ainge hadn't have had his two other goals struck off and then allowed Fylde to grab an equaliser in the last few minutes.

We now have the, on paper, easier chance of an away win at Stalybridge on Tuesday evening.  Now with Steve Burr back in charge there it may not be all that easy.  And then there is the pitch!!!

 Goals for FC Utd: Thomson 24

REFEREE:

Mr D Bourne Nottinghamshire