Recap: Harriers win Newport friendly

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HARRIERS kept up their preparations for the new season with a deserved 2-0 friendly win over League 2 side Newport at Aggborough.

Harriers quickly set about their latest summer task with real enthusiasm, Amari Morgan-Smith going close as early as the second minute with a bullet header at a corner which was punched clear by goalkeeper Jacob Carney.

That was one of a raft of early chances for the Reds. Caleb Richards was denied with five minutes played before Maliq Cadogan was thwarted soon after as he tried to chip Carney from distance.

Cadogan tried the low and hard approach four minutes later but still met with similar resistance, before the deadlock was broken from the penalty spot when Ashley Hemmings did the honours from the spot, Zak Brown fouled inside the area.

Close to the half-hour, Morgan-Smith shot across goal and forced a good save from the busy Carney, who in turn then denied Alex Penny from the corner of the area as he looked to finish high into the top corner.

Christian Dibble held on to a Newport effort a couple of minutes later with his only save of the half before the visitors struck wide through Michael Spellman’s drive.

Hemmings and Maz Kouhyar went close for Harriers in the opening minutes of the second period,  and just after the hour the Reds were 2-0 up as ‘Player D’ drove through a crowd of bodies from 20 yards to find the bottom corner.

Only a fine save prevented an immediate Newport reply after a loose pass was pounced upon, Dibble standing up excellently to repel a close range effort.

Morgan-Smith almost added a third from a similar distance at the other end as the heavens well and truly opened to soak Aggborough, but the County shot-stopper produced another fine stop to keep the score at 2-0.

Harriers finish their pre-season campaign with an Aggborough match against a Stoke City XI on Saturday, 3 August, and tickets are on sale now.

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