Harriers-Online/reports1 00-01

MATCH REPORTS FOR SEASON 00/01...12/8/00 to 29/9/00.

12/8/00
HARRIERS..Vs..TORQUAY UTD.

WHAT A CRACKER, BAZZA.

Kidderminster Harriers started life in the Football League today with a fine win against Torquay Utd in scorching hot temperatures.
Harriers started the game with some beautiful flowing football and at times it looked as if Torquay didn't know what they were up against.

After a flurry of corners the Reds scored their first ever goal in the League. It came in the 14th minute with a corner from record signing, Andy Ducros.
His inswinger was cleared as far as former Torquay player, Scott Stamps whose shot from just inside the area took Torquay by surprise and left them waiting for a whistle for offside from Premiership referee, Graham Poll. It never came.
Webby knocked the ball on for Stewart Hadley to put a shot past keeper Jones. Aggborough erupted.

Torquay could not cope as Harriers started to pass the ball round confidently, with Hill the first of their players to be shown a yellow card, after a bit of ankle tapping on Deano.
A high tackle on Ducros later on bought a similar punishment for Mark Ford.

It was Ducks who almost got the Reds a second goal with a cheeky lob when he saw Jones off his line, but it just dropped the wrong side of the crossbar.

Torquays only real chance of the first half came when Adie Smith slipped to allow Parker to run away with the ball towards the Harriers keeper, Clarke, who superbly narrowed the angle and dived at his feet to stop an almost certain goal.

HT. 1-0

With the start of the second period The Gulls seemed to start with a bit more purpose but without having much to show for their efforts.
More chances came Harriers way with attempts to increase the lead fron Hadley, Ducros, and Stamps.

It was an absolute cracker from the velvety skills of Barry Horne that finally sealed the three points with a full volley from 25 yds that screamed into the back of the net past an helpless Torquay keeper.
After that the Reds were content to play the ball around and contain anything that Torquay attempted.

In the final few minutes The Gulls received their third booking with a first card for Jimmy Aggrey, who for me was their outstanding player.
If only he could have stopped his petty fouling and arguing he would have been Man of the Match.

For that the Harriers-Online Man of the Match has gone to Paul Webb.

An inspiring performance from Webby. He had it all, guts, passion and a desire to prove he has made the right choice to follow his heart.

FT. 2-0

TEAMS:
Harriers.
Clarke; Clarkson, Hinton, Smith, Stamps, Webb, Horne, Bennett, Ducros, Foster, Hadley.
Subs; Bird, Shail, Davies, Corbett, Brock.

Torquay.
Jones; Holmes, Watson, Aggrey, Tully, Brandon, Hill, Ford, Platts, Parker, Sissoko.
Subs; Northmore, Stocco, Neil, O'Brien, Hockley

Cards;
Yellow. Harriers 1. Bird.
Yellow. Torquay 3. Hill, Ford, Aggrey.

Red. Harriers 0
Red. Torquay 0

Referee; Graham Poll.

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19/8/00
SCUNTHORPE..Vs..HARRIERS.

REDS CRASH TO TEN MAN SCUNTHORPE.

Harriers hopes of keeping the momentum going following last weeks win against Torquay came crashing to the ground at Glanville Park today.
With both sides starting brightly it all erupted in the 15 minute.
After a collision with Paul Webb, Uniteds', Nigel Pepper received his marching orders while being carried off on a stretcher with a suspected broken leg.
Instead of making the most of a weakened Scunthorpe side the Reds gave it all away by conceding a silly goal straight away.

Poor defending allowed Uniteds Steve Torpey to head into the back of the net for the first goal on 17 minutes.
For the rest of the first half the Harriers controlled all the play but without making any serious attempt to claw back the deficit.
In the 24th minute Scott Stamps header sailed wide and then Ducros' curler fell into the arms of keeper Evans.
Then on 28 minutes Bennetts header ended up in the same place, a few moments later Bennett and Horne tried long range efforts from outside the box, but they came to nothing.

Six minutes were added on for extra time in the first half by the fourth official.

HT. 1-0

The second half started with the Harriers fans expecting their heroes to turn the screw. That never happened.
Scunthorpe started to look the stronger side and they forced only their second corner of the game three minutes after the restart.
On 56 minutes Paul Webb came off to allow new signing, Ian Bogie, his debut following his arrival at Aggborough in midweek.
Harriers then won five corners in succession but they came to nothing.

The game flared up again when Torpey and Harriers Captain, Ian Clarkson, clashed after Ian claimed he had been elbowed.
It was all over by the 76th minute when Scunthorpe went two up with a lob over Tim Clarkes head by substitute Wayne Graves.

FT. 2-0

TEAMS:
Harriers.
Clarke; Clarkson, Hinton, Smith, Stamps, Webb, Horne, Bennett, Ducros, Foster, Hadley.
Subs; Bird, Shail, Bogie, Corbett, Brock.

Scunthorpe.
Evans; Harsley, Wilcox, Thom, Dawson, Hodges, Pepper, Stanton, Morrison, Torpey, Sheldon.
Subs; Stamp, Quailey, Herrick, Sparrow, Graves.

Cards;
Yellow. Harriers 1. Bennett.
Yellow. Scunthorpe 2. Torpey, Sheldon.

Red. Harriers 0.
Red. Scunthorpe 1. Pepper.

Referee; C J Foy.

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22/8/00
WORTHINGTON CUP 1st RD 1st LEG
WALSALL..Vs..HARRIERS.

HARRIERS ALL SQUARE AT WALSALL.

It was a game packed with atmosphere from both sets of fans in good voice and the flowing football on the pitch.
Harriers made the early running with some truly stupendous passing football but they were made to pay for this when, on the break Gabor Bukran drove a low cross into the area to the Portugese, Jorge Leitao who coolly stroked the ball past an advancing Tim Clarke on eight minutes.

Walsall then took control of the game, showing their Div 1 pedigree to great effect with their slick passing and running off the ball.
Harriers were continually pedalling back to contain them and when they did manage to get the ball up field they seemed to want too much time on the ball, passing it around and getting nowhere.

HT. 1-0

The second half started in much the same way as the first had finished, Walsall controlling the play and it only looked a matter of time before they would score a second goal.

But then Harriers started to come back into the game with more accurate passing and better running off the ball.

Suddenly the Harriers fans started to sense that we could get a goal back after a couple of runs to the bye line from Ian Foster, who sent in some super crosses that bought the crowd to their feet.
The goal came in the 67th minute when Scott Stamps whipped in a cross from the left and in the melee in front of Walsalls goalie, Walker, Hadley swooped low to head the ball into the back of the net and the away end erupted.

After that Walsall seemed to tire and the Reds started to take control of the game and another goal looked to be on its way.
It never came, but it didn't matter, because when the final whistle blew we knew we had played a team, who, by rights should be playing in the 1st Division.
We had matched them man for man, a draw was the fairest result and would set the Harriers up nicely for the second leg on September 5th.

FT. 1-1

Harriers-Online Man of the Match has to be Mark Shail

On this form Webby will have to fight to get his place back.
Shail was a class act and was cool under pressure.

TEAMS:
Harriers.
Clarke; Clarkson, Hinton, Bogie, Stamps, Shail, Horne, Bennett, Bird, Foster, Hadley.
Subs; Smith, Pope, Davies, Corbett, Brock.

Walsall.
Walker; Brightwell, Aranalde, Roper, Tillson, Hall, Bukran, Keates, Wrack, Leitao, Byfield.
Subs; Eyjolfsson, Emberson, Angell, Matias, Gadsby.

Cards;
Yellow. Harriers 0.
Yellow. Walsall 0.

Red. Harriers 0.
Red. Walsall 0.

Referee; Mr T Bates.

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26/8/00
HARRIERS..Vs..HALIFAX TOWN.

HADLEYS DOUBLE SECURES THE POINTS.

The Harriers climbed to 5th place in the table today with a 2-0 victory against old Conference foes, Halifax Town.

Harriers started brightly, passing the ball round well, but without making any real inroads against a determined Halifax defence.
In the 21st minute Halifax went ahead against the run of play with a scrappy goal from Gaughan that bobbled over the line, to the disbelief of the Town End regulars.

The Reds then buckled down to the task and in the 38th minute Ducros drove the ball in for Bennett to collect and hammer the ball goalwards, only for it to rebound off Halifax keeper, Parks.
It fell for Stewart Hadley who side footed it past the helpless keeper.

Almost immediately Hadley got a second goal.
A cross from Stamps came over and Hadley volleyed it past Parks for our second goal in as many minutes.

HT. 2-1

The second half started and the home fans sensed that there would be more goals to come, but things turned out differently.

A cross from the Halifax goalscorer, Gaughan, flew over Tim Clarkes head and in the scramble Adie Smith handballed it away.
The ref pointed to the spot immediately and pulled Adie, who was expecting a red card, to one side and instead waved a yellow at him. Relief came from the Harriers fans and disbelief from the Halifax supporters.
More relief came seconds later when Clarke saved the penalty, Softly sidefooted by Thompson. It ran to Middleton who tried to make good Thompsons mistake but it was, ironically, blocked by Adie Smith.

A few minutes later Tony Bird collecting his first booking for stupidly kicking the ball away after the whistle had blown, his second of the season due to lack of self control. And then a few minutes later he got himself sent off for a tackle from behind on Reilly.

After that the game seemed to deteriorate, only a blistering left foot shot from Andy Ducros that went just wide, gave the Harriers faithful any hope of increasing the lead.

In the end it was another three points in the bag and a few more places up the table.

FT. 2-1

Harriers-Online Man of the Match is Stewart Hadley

Stewart now runs his heart out for this team.
What a difference to last season.

TEAMS:
Harriers.
Clarke; Clarkson, Hinton, Bogie, Stamps, Smith, Horne, Bennett, Bird, Ducros, Hadley.
Subs; Shail, Foster, Davies, Corbett, Brock.

Halifax.
Parks; Wilder, Mitchell, Stoneman, Jules, Thompson, Gaughan, Middleton, Bradshaw, Kerrigan, Jones. Subs; Shannon, Holt, Reilly, Stansfield, Fitzpatrick.
Cards;
Yellow. Harriers 2. Smith, Bird
Yellow. Halifax 1. Jones

Red. Harriers 1. Bird
Red. Halifax 0.

Referee; M Cowburn.

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28/8/00
BRIGHTON..Vs..HARRIERS.

REDS ROCK BRIGHTON.

Dean Bennett and Ian Foster were on target in a 2-0 win for Kidderminster, as the Harriers caught Brighton with a classic sucker punch to take them to 3rd place in the league.
Brighton were the better side in the first half and went close through Bobby Zamora and Gary Hart but the first half ended all square at 0-0.

HT. 0-0

It was a different story in the 2nd half.

In the 52nd minute Stuart Brock's throw freed Tony Bird down the right and he crossed for Ian Foster to fire home from ten yards.
Brighton boss Micky Adams made a triple substitution in a bid to rescue the match but the Harriers struck again on the break after 67 minutes.
Ian Bogie's diagonal pass put Dean Bennett clean through and he calmly slotted past Mark Cartwright in goal.

But they were put under tremendous pressure by Brighton in the closing stages.
Stuart Brock had to be alert to keep out a header from Charlie Oatway, who later shot over with another effort.
Crosby could have pulled one back with a header that flew over and Paul Watson was also off-target with a free-kick.
In the end it was the Harriers who came away with maximum points after another fine display of football.

FT. 0-2

TEAMS:
Harriers.
Brock; Hinton, Clarkson, Stamps, Shail, Bennett, Horn, Bird, Hadley, Foster, Bogie.
Subs; Murphy, Corbett, Ducros, Webb, Smith.

Brighton.
Cartwright; Crosby, Cullip, Jones, Watson, Oatway, Rogers, Brooker, Hart, Freeman, Zamora.
Subs; Carr, Ramsey, Melton, Thomas, Mayo.

Cards;
Yellow. Harriers 0.
Yellow. Brighton 1 Watson.

Red. Harriers 0.
Red. Brighton 0.

Referee; S.Bennett (Orpington).

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2/9/00
HARRIERS..Vs..CARLISLE UTD.

HARRIERS CRASH TO FIRST HOME DEFEAT.

Harriers, unbeaten at home for almost a year, and going for their third successive win, lost to a strong Carlisle Utd at Aggborough today.

Adie Smith replaced Scott Stamps, knee injury, and Andy Ducros came in for Ian Foster who was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
In goal, Stuart Brock, replaced Tim Clarke.

Harriers started the game brightly with some beautiful passing and good movement off the ball, Carlisle didn't know what had hit them and they resorted to hoofing the ball up field at every opportunity.
But the Reds soon fell into their habit of having so much possession that they didn't know what to do with it and ended up passing the ball back and forth with out making any impression where it mattered, in front of goal.
The first attempt on goal came from Carlisle and saw Dobie beat Shail in the air and force Brock into the first save of the game, but he coped with it easily.

After six minutes Harriers had their first chance with Ducros whose 30 yd shot took a deflection off Whitehead and flew harmlessly out of play.
Brock again showed that he wanted to keep his place as first choice keeper when he came off his line to collect two dangerous looking crosses from Dobie.
He was there again in the 10th minute when Carlisle forced the first real chance from Soley, who launched a 30 yd chip which Brock tipped over for the game's first corner. After a few more long range efforts from the Harriers it was Carlisle who went into the break looking the stronger side.

HT. 0-0

The second half started with the Reds seemingly determined to do the business with an effort from Ian Bogie that ended up going well wide.
Another chance for Bennett wenmt begging when the cross from Clarkson hit the back of his head and bounced harmlessly away.
Again Carlisle started to take control of the game with two chances for Heggs that were saved well by Brock.

But then came Harriers best chance to take the lead on 63 minutes when Ducros put Bird through on the left for a cross which first Hadley then Bennett, who came sliding in, could not make a clear connection.
Seconds later Carlisle took the lead with a quick break and Dobie curled a cross which was met beautifully on the volley by Stevens from 10 yds, giving the diving Brock no chance.

After that Carlisle shut up shop.

Paul Webb came on for Tony Bird and Dean Bennett moved into a more forward position, but it made no difference against a very solid Carlisle back row.
Harriers just didn't seem able to make the change from passing the ball around to the more direct route that was needed to save face.

FT. 0-1

Harriers-Online Man of the Match is Stuart Brock

A good solid display from Brocky.
Apart from one David James type punch out, he looked as safe as houses and could not be faulted for the goal.

TEAMS:
Harriers.
Brock; Clarkson, Hinton, Shail, Smith, Horne, Bogie, Bennett, Ducros, Bird, Hadley.
Subs; Webb, Murphy, Pope, Davies, Corbett.

TEAMS:
Carlisle.
Weaver; Birch, Darby, Winstanley, Whitehead, Hemmings, Soley, Prokas, Dobie, Stevens, Heggs.
Subs; Lee, Tracey, Squires, Pitts, Carrs.

Cards;
Yellow. Harriers 0.
Yellow. Carlisle 1. Birch.

Red. Harriers 0.
Red. Carlisle 0.

Referee; Paul Armstrong (Thatcham).

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5/9/00
WORTHINGTON CUP 1st RD 2nd LEG
HARRIERS..Vs..WALSALL.

HARRIERS GO OUT OF WORTHINGTON CUP.

Harriers made their exit from this years Worthington cup after this defeat at a packed Aggborough.
After drawing 1-1 at Walsalls' Bescot Stadium two weeks ago hopes were high that we would finish the job at home.
But it wasn't to be, Walsall finished 2-1 winners on aggregate with a goal from substitute, ex Villa striker, Darren Byfield.

Harriers again started strongly, passing the ball around well but never seeming able to get the ball into the area.
Walsall soaked it all up easily but it wasn't until the 18th minute that they had their first attempt on goal with an effort from Brett Angell that Stuart Brock saved easily.
The rest of the first half didn't produce much else apart from long range efforts from Horne and Ducros for the Harriers and shots going well wide of the mark from Walsall.

HT. 0-0

The second half started with both sides producing the same as the first half with neither side able to produce something different.
Walsall still couldn't seem to shoot straight and the Reds seemed afraid to shoot on sight again.
It wasn't until half way through the half that Harriers made their best move of the game when Tony Bird fed the ball through to Andy Ducros who took the ball to the byline, pushed the ball through the Walsall defenders legs and skipped round him to send a low cross into the area.
But again it was cleared by the defence and the chance was gone.

The Harriers fans started to call for a substitution but it never came.
It was Walsall who made the change by bringing on Darren Byfield for the ineffective Leitao, who scored against the Harriers in the first leg.
Within minutes Byfield scored with a 25yd shot after a total mix-up between Craig Hintons throw in and Stuart Brock that left Brock off his line and Byfield with an empty net.

Soon after Walsall bought on defender Tom Bennett in place of Brett Angell and shut up shop.

FT. 0-1

Harriers-Online Man of the Match is Adie Smith.

Another solid performance from Adie.
And another disappointing one from the Harriers.

TEAMS:
Harriers.
Brock; Clarkson, Hinton, Shail, Smith, Horne, Bogie, Bennett, Ducros, Bird, Hadley.
Subs; Webb, Murphy, Pope, Davies, Corbett.

Walsall.
Walker; Brightwell, Tillson, Keates, Angell, Leitao, Aranalde, Hall, Barras, Bukran, Matias.
Subs; Bennett, Roper, Byfield, Emberson Carter.

Cards;
Yellow. Harriers 1. Horne.
Yellow. Walsall 2. Aranalde, Brightwell.

Red. Harriers 0.
Red. Walsall 0.

Referee; P Dowd.

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9/9/00
BARNET..Vs..HARRIERS.

REDS GET HARD EARNED DRAW.

Under strength Harriers gained a creditable draw at Barnet today.
On the famous sloping pitch Harriers were made to play uphill in the first half and defend against a Barnet side determined to use it to their advantage.

Playing at a breakneck speed, Barnet tried to bombard the Harriers goal hoping to force the heavily bandaged Stuart Brock into early action but all their attempts were thwarted by a solid Reds defence.
Apart from an overhead kick by Ken Charlery in the opening stages it took until the 16th minute for Brock to make his first save when he dived to stop Doolans 20yd drive.

The next threat on the Harriers goal didn't come until the 41st minute when, from Barnet's 4th corner, Brock tried to punch the ball away only for it to fall into the crowded goalmouth where it was cleared by Adie Smith for another corner.

HT. 0-0

After the break, with Harriers now playing down the slope, the visiting fans thought that they may see a bit more attacking play from the lads.
In the 52nd minute came their first real attempt on Barnet's goal when Gary Barnetts shot was charged down.

In the 60th minute Paul Webb came on for Andy Ducros.

A minute later Barnet's Doolan put in a tremendous shot from 30 yards but Stuart Brock saw it coming and saved easily.
Then Darren Currie crossed from the left to the far post where sub Tony Richards was inches from connecting.

Almost at the death Harriers snatched it when Stewart Hadley screwed his shot past the diving Harrison and wide of the far post.

FT. 0-0

TEAMS:
Harriers.
Brock; Barnett, Clarkson, Hinton, Smith, Bennett, Horne, Ducros, Shail, Bogie, Hadley.
Subs; Webb, Murphy, Pope, Kerr, Corbett.

Barnet.
Harrison; Stockley, Heald, Basham, Arber, Sawyers, Doolan, Toms, Currie, Charlery, McGleish.
Subs; Naisbitt, Strevens, Newton, Richards, Bell.

Cards;
Yellow. Harriers 0.
Yellow. Barnet 0.

Red. Harriers 0.
Red. Barnet 0.

Referee; L Cable (Worthing).

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12/9/00
SOUTHEND UTD..Vs..HARRIERS.

HARRIERS GET POINT, BUT JAN IS NOT HAPPY.

Although the Harriers came back with a point from Southend after Mark Shails first half goal, Jan Molby was fuming at their inept second half performance.
Molby said it was one of the worst performances he had been associated with and has promised changes for the visit of Leyton Orient on Saturday.

"We were appalling in the first half and worse in the second.
I was disgusted with what I saw.
I will not tolerate this again and you can take it from me that it will be different against Orient on Saturday."

Harriers looked so confident in the first half that the surprise was that they didn't go into the break with more than one goal to show for their dominance.
The goal came in the 28th minute when Mark Shail rose above Roget at the far-post to meet a left-wing corner from Gary Barnett and powered a header past the flat footed keeper, Woodman.
Harriers missed a chance to increase their lead when Tony Bird shot over the bar from a great position four minutes later and then Bird again saw another effort fly wide when he should have hit the target eight minutes before the interval.
Harriers looked so superior to a struggling Southend in the first half that they looked certain to increase the lead in the second half.

HT. 0-1

The second half started with controversy when the Southend midfield man, Maher, was sent off for a second bookable offence when he tapped Dean Bennetts ankle.
The referee, who had booked him for an innocuous foul in the first half, stunned the crowd by sending him off.
This galvanised Southend and their supporters, who had spent the first half booing and barracking the manager, Alan Little.

Suddenly it was the Reds who were on the defensive to stop a wave of desperate attacks. But solid handling by Stuart Brock and top class defending by Mark Shail kept Southend out until they struck with a dramatic equaliser nine minutes from time.
Defender Leo Roget moved forward to take a square ball from Scott Houghton in his stride before rifling a 25-yard screamer into the top corner of the net.

Kidderminster stormed the Southend goal in the dying minutes and Gary Barnett was left holding his head in shame as missed an open goal in the 85th minute when he screwed the ball wide of an empty net.

FT. 1-1

TEAMS:
Harriers.
Brock; Clarkson, Stamps, Webb, Hinton, Bennett, Horne, Bird, Shail, Barnett, Hadley
Subs; Smith, Kerr, Bogie, Murphy, Ducros.

Southend.
Woodman, Cross, Whelan, Roget, Tinkler, Maher, Connelly, Searle, Houghton, Fitzpatrick, Carruthers.
Subs; Forbes, Morley, Capleton, Lee, Johnson.

Cards;
Yellow. Harriers 2. Shail, Bennett.
Yellow. Southend 4. Cross, Maher, Tinkler, Houghton

Red. Harriers 0.
Red. Southend 1 Maher.

Referee; Paul Danson (Leicester).

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15/9/00
HARRIERS..Vs..LEYTON ORIENT.

HARRIERS GRAB LUCKY WIN.

Harriers grabbed all three points to get their first win in four games against a slick, professional Leyton Orient.
There were three changes from the team that drew at Southend on Tuesday night.
Adie Smith surprisingly replaced Mark Shail at the back, and in midfield Ian Bogie and Andy Ducros replaced Paul Webb and Garry Barnett.
Webby and Shail started the game looking on from the bench.

Harriers started brightly with Stewart Hadley the first to break for Kidderminster on six minutes when his cross shot was charged down by keeper Bayes, the ball bouncing over the heads of both Bird and Bennett.
But the Orient went into an unexpected lead in the ninth minute when Iseyden Christie slotted the ball home from 10yds after pouncing on Ian Clarkson's weak header after he was put under pressure from Joseph's right wing cross.
Orient were starting to threaten another goal and Harris was next to try when he sent a vicious 25yd drive out of the ground.
They came close again, very close, on 25 minutes when Josephs fierce cross just clipped the bar with Stuart Brock stranded at the near post.

Harriers were starting to make mistakes in midfield with passes going astray, Barry Horne looking totally out of sorts and no one seeming able to send a cross over to the left side of the pitch.
And again there was the problem of recent weeks with no one prepared to make a run into the box or shoot on sight.

Ian Clarkson became the first name to go into refs book when he was booked for a tackle on Christie in the 31st min.
Two minutes later Christie was booked for a elbow on Clarkson.
Clarkson then tried to show the strikers how to do it when his 30yd thunderbolt narrowly whizzed past the upright in the 36th minute.

Halftime came and again the crowd could see that the team were about to receive a rollicking from Jan Molby.

Maybe the second half would bring an improvement.

HT. 0-1

Orient threatened first when Watts 25yd drive tested Brock in the Harriers goal but he caught it comfortably.
The Harrier were still struggling to make a breakthrough when Garcia shot over after being put clean through when Horne gave away possession in mid-field.

Jan finally took Horne off in the 63rd minute and, to the cheers of the home fans bought on Paul Webb in an effort to liven things up a bit.
It worked, from the minute he came on the Reds attitude seemed to change and they started to attack the Orient goalmouth.
It all started to come together when Craig Hinton sent the Harriers fans wild after his glancing header bought the equaliser on 77 minutes.

Just after Jan sent on Andy Corbett for his debut. He instantly burst into action when he chased a 50/50 ball into the area to pressurise the keeper. This what the fans had been waiting for, someone to show some passion.
Five minutes later it was all over when Dean Bennett, who also had a below par game, beat the Orient keeper from a Ducros corner.
The Harriers fans couldn't believe it, after being outclassed and outplayed for 70% of the game, they ended up as winners and sent the Orient fans home in shock.

To be honest, this was a game the Harriers never looked like scoring in, let alone winning.
But there you go, thats football.

Harriers-Online Man of the Match is Craig Hinton.

Another solid performance from Craigy.
How long before the scouts come sniffing round?.

FT. 2-1

TEAMS:
Harriers.
Brock; Clarkson, Stamps, A Smith, Hinton, Bennett, Horne, Bird, Ducros, Bennett, Hadley.
Subs; Webb, Shail, Murphy, Corbett, Kerr.

Orient.
Bayes; Joseph, Lockwood, D Smith, McGee, Harris, Walschaerts, Brkovic, Christie, Garcia, Watts.
Subs; Barrett,, McElholm, Griffiths, Ibhere, Martin.

Cards;
Yellow. Harriers 1. Clarkson
Yellow. Orient 1. Christie

Red. Harriers 0.
Red. Orient 0.

Referee; P. Prosser (Glos).

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23/9/00
CARDIFF CITY..Vs..HARRIERS.

HARRIERS HOLD BLUEBIRDS.

Harriers came back from Cardiffs Ninian Park after holding the unbeaten home side to a 0-0 draw.
The Reds started the game without leading scorer Stewart Hadley who was not even on the bench, he was thought to have been suffering from a sore Achilles.
In his place came Paul Webb, making his first start for nine matches while Mark Shail came in for Adie Smith at centre-back.

The Reds started brightly but soon came under the cosh from Cardiffs aerial bombardment.
Cardiff forced the first chance when Evans sliced wide after Nugent had knocked down a deep centre from Legg.
Then Legg took a long throw in and both Shail and Horne were forced to head away from deep inside their own penalty area.
Cardif then wasted another chance on nine minutes when Young headed wide from Owen's free kick after Shail had impeded Nugent.

Former Cardiff and Swansea striker Tony Bird, who was booed by the Cardiff fans when his name was announced, almost silenced them when he nearly opened Harriers account with a towering header to force Walton into a diving save.
Then came three Harriers corners, but they all came to nothing.
On 23 minutes Bird went close again with a snapshot straight at the keeper after a dreadful header by Evans.

City thought they had taken the lead on 28 minutes when Earnshaw stabbed the ball over the line after Nugent had returned a Legg corner back into the danger area,but the referee quite rightly disallowed the effort for a push on Brock by Bowen that had seen the keeper bundled into the back of his own net.
Seconds later Earnshaw rounded Brock from an acute angle after Nugent had split the Harriers defence.
But Mark Shail coolly dribbled around Legg in front of his own goal and clear the ball away.

Harriers, who were backed by their largest travelling support in the League this season, went into the dressing room at halftime having done a good job in keeping their hosts in control.

HT. 0-0

Cardiff started the second half brightest and Hill saw a fierce drive blocked following a corner.
Danger man Earnshaw then had the crowd on their feet when he beat Hinton to force a vicious cross shot but Brock gathered easily.
The Harriers keeper was not so confident moments later however, when he dropped a cross from Evans with Earnshaw lurking, but he gathered at the second attempt.
Shail then headed over his own bar from a cross by former Albion full-back Gabbidon.
Then Greene was only a foot wide with a downward header from another Evans pass.

Cardiff made the first substitution of the game when their new �300,000 signing, Leo Fortune-West replaced Bowen on 56 minutes.

In the 68th minute came the Harriers first real chance of the second half when Ducros split the home defence for Bennett to race through unchallenged in the inside-left channel, but he fired too close to Walton, allowing the keeper to save.
Then on 87 minutes Ian Bogie pumped a high ball into the penalty area, Dean Bennett outjumped a Cardiff defence that was slow to react and met it with a powerful header that beat Cardiff goalkeeper Mark Walton only to come back off the bar.
Scott Stamps fired the rebound wide.

Cardiff striker Robert Earnshaw then thought he had given the Bluebirds the lead but his 88th minute header was again disallowed for offside.

After the match Cardiff City manager Bobby Gould admitted his side were fortunate to escape with the draw that preserves their unbeaten Third Division record.
Gould said:
"Kidderminster certainly had the better chances although we did have two disallowed goals.
I have a question mark against the one in the first half but can't argue with the late header.
Even so I am disappointed we did not create more clear cut chances. It is not nice to see a zero in the goals for column at home because if you cannot win on your own pitch it puts extra pressure on you to do it away."

Harriers' manager Jan Molby said he was disappointed at the result.
"Bird was unlucky in the first half, we created far more clear cut opportunities, we worked hard and I think we were unlucky not to go away with the win."

FT. 0-0

TEAMS:
Harriers.
Brock; Clarkson, Stamps, Hinton, Webb, Shail, Bogie, Bennett, Horne, Bird, Ducros.
Subs; Murphy, Smith, Corbett, Davies, Barnett.

Cardiff.
Walton; Gabbidon, Greene, Young, Legg, Evans, Hill, Bowen, Nugent, Earnshaw, Brazier.
Subs; Fortune-West, Bonner, Hallworth, McCulloch, Brayson.

Cards;
Yellow. Harriers 0.
Yellow. Cardiff 0.

Red. Harriers 0.
Red. Cardiff 0.

Referee; Rob Styles (Hants).

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29/9/00
HARRIERS..Vs..BLACKPOOL.

BLACKPOOL MAKE KIDDY ROCK.

Harriers were well and truly bought down to earth with a crash at Aggborough this evening.
With all the world and it's mother watching on Sky TV the expectancy was for a display of pure football from the Reds, against battling rearguard action from a Blackpool side desperate to climb away from the bottom of the Football League.

Harriers hadn't read the script!

It started promisingly with both sides passing the ball round well with the Harriers making the first attempt on goal with an Andy Ducros shot deflected by Blackpools Morrison, on loan from Man City.
Then Tony Bird received the ball on the edge of the box after some good work from Scott Stamps. His shot was well saved by the Blackpool keeper who put the ball around the post for a corner.

But slowly Blackpool came into the game with fine football from ex Wolf, Paul Simpson and the speedy Brett Ormerod.
On 18 minutes Simpson was given the chance to put his team in front when Murphy laid the ball off to him on the edge of the 6 yard box, but his point blank shot was well saved by Stuart Brock.
From the resultant corner Simpson picked up the ball on the edge of the box and let fly with a fierce drive directed towards the near post and the ball powered into the back of the net.

Eight minutes later Harriers went two down.
Brett Ormerod picked up the ball on the break and beat Hinton as he worked his way into the box to send in a low drive towards Brock's near post.

He was left with no chance of stopping the shot.

HT. 0-2

Within minutes of the restart the game was as good as over for the shellshocked Harriers.

Ormerod crossed low on the six yard box and Coid floated the loose ball back into the danger area. Simpson was there to half volley the ball into the net for his second and Blackpool's third from ten yards.

Harriers didn't know what had hit them.
For the rest of the game they just seemed to pass the ball around aimlessly, rarely testing the keeper.
Hadley and Bird were totally out of it, at times it seemed as if Hadley was the only striker on the field for the Reds.
The times when he had the ball he didn't seem to know what to do with it and not once did he apply any pressure on the opposing keeper.

We need someone who is prepared to TERRORISE the opposition.

After 58 minutes it was four.
Steve Bushell set up Murphy, and after his effort cannoned off Brock's right upright, Ormerod was quickest to react to the loose ball.
With both Simpson and Ormerod on two goals apiece it looked certain that one of them would get a third.

Thank God it wasn't to be.

Jan Molby brought on subs Adie Smith and Dean Bennett for Clarkson and Webb in an attempt to salvage a consolation goal.
Bennett almost achieved it on 72 minutes after good work from Ducros, but Barnes saved well.

Andy Ducros provided the consolation goal 4 minutes later.
His free kick from the edge of the box found it's way into the top corner of the net.
This was justice for Ducros who was the man of the match.
Stamps nearly got a second Harriers goal on 83 minutes with another shot from a free kick.

It was all over, Harriers had slumped to their worst defeat of the season and probably most of last season as well.
They never seemed to be in with a chance once Blackpool had scored and we hadn't got one single player with the enthusiasm of Ormerod.
Even I applauded him off the field when he was substituted towards the end of the game.

Some serious work needs to be done if this is not repeated against Rochdale next Friday.

Harriers-Online Man of the Match is Andy Ducros.

The only Harriers player who gained any credit from all this.

FT. 1-4

TEAMS:
Harriers.
Brock; Clarkson, Stamps, Webb, Hinton, Horne, Bird, Ducros, Shail, Bogie, Hadley.
Subs; Smith, Bennett, Murphy, Davies, Corbett.

Blackpool.
Barnes; Jaszczun, Bushell, Hughes, Morrison, J.Murphy, Collins, Coid, Jones, Ormerod, Simpson.
Subs; Clarkson, Wellens, Nowland, Rachel, N.Murphy.

Cards;
Yellow. Harriers 0.
Yellow. Blackpool 1. Morrison

Red. Harriers 0.
Red. Blackpool 0.

Referee; P Walton (Northants).

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