Recap: Harriers 3-1 Chorley

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HARRIERS produced an excellent display to see off Chorley 3-1 at Aggborough.

It wasn’t an absolute classic and, as ever, rarely is anything achieved against Chorley on the cheap but, in the end, it was a deserved three points for the boys who showed tremendous resolve in challenging a second half.

The visitors offered the first half-chance on 13 minutes when a loose ball sat up for Mark Ellis, though the defender was stretching and sent his strike high over the stand.

Harriers settled quickly after that and took the lead with a well-worked move. Ryley Reynolds released Michael Gyasi down the left, the forward driving into the box before his initial attempt was blocked. Gyasi reacted sharply to the rebound and guided a composed second effort past Matt Urwin for the opener.

Chorley briefly thought they had struck back when Jack Sampson followed in a save from Christian Dibble, but the flag was up immediately with the striker clearly beyond the last defender. Harriers kept the tempo high and almost found a second from a short-corner routine on the half-hour, Kam Kandola stepping onto a firm strike that was charged down inside a packed penalty area.

The visitors levelled early in the second half. A sequence of corners eventually led to a recycled cross and, as Charlie Cooper tried to clear, the ball glanced off the top of his head and looped over Dibble. There was little either player could do with the deflection, but Harriers’ response was positive. Emeka Obi soon powered onto a corner of his own, rising well only to send his header narrowly over from close range.

Good movement from midfield then opened another promising moment on 67 minutes, Reynolds sliding Owen Evans into space before the pull-back found Gyasi, whose effort lacked a little power and was gathered by Urwin.

The pressure was building, and Harriers reclaimed the advantage with 12 minutes remaining. Evans’ corner caused hesitation in the six-yard box and substitute Kurt Willoughby reacted quickest, driving the ball home with real conviction just moments after stepping onto the pitch.

The afternoon was rounded off by a superb third goal late on. George Walker beat his man down the right and delivered a lifted cross of real quality, picking out the run of Luke Spokes, who arrived at pace, charging into the box to guide an excellent downward header beyond Urwin.

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