Recap: Harriers 1-0 AFC Fylde

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HARRIERS produced another outstanding performance to see off league leaders AFC Fylde 1-0 at Aggborough.

Just a couple of weekends after producing a similar standard to take three points from South Shields, Reece Devine’s early effort made sure of another maximum haul against another of the division’s pace-setters.

The opening exchanges were lively, but Harriers struck early to take control. On six minutes, Ashley Hemmings drove forward before sweeping a ball across the box. It was blocked into the path of Ryley Reynolds, whose deft touch to lay in Reece Devine was perfect – he drove a low finish beyond Zac Jones to put Harriers ahead.

Fylde responded with their best chance of the half six minutes later. Danny Ormerod got to the byline and went for goal himself, striking the post, before Tom Whelan followed up but lifted his effort over.

Reynolds was again involved on 18 minutes, doing well to slide Hemmings in behind. The forward turned smartly and managed to get a shot away, though it lacked the power to trouble Jones. Seven minutes later, Paul Kalambayi made good progress with the ball and picked out Hemmings once more, his effort this time well held by the visiting goalkeeper.

Harriers felt they might have had a chance from a corner on 40 minutes when Emeka Obi charged in to meet the delivery and appeared to be pulled to the ground, but the referee waved away the appeals. Another set-piece followed shortly after, with Obi again involved, the ball dropping to Hemmings whose first effort was blocked before a second was fired over the bar.

Half-time arrived with Harriers good value for their lead, and the hosts continued to press after the restart. Hemmings went for the ambitious from distance with a free kick on 54 minutes, the effort pulling wide, before Charlie Cooper connected cleanly with a strike from around 35 yards on the hour mark that continued to rise over the bar.

Fylde had a rare moment on 69 minutes when the ball fell kindly to Whelan from distance, his effort looking set for the target until a deflection sent it over. Harriers quickly regained the initiative, George Walker doing well on 76 minutes to tee up David Davis, whose powerful strike from 25 yards rose towards the top corner but glanced just wide.

The pressure continued late on. With nine minutes remaining, Reynolds picked up a loose ball as Fylde failed to clear a corner and bent an effort towards goal that Jones did well to tip aside.

With just a goal in it, the game never felt done and dusted but it was always Harriers looking the more likely to add a goal. In added time, Reynolds again went close from more than 25 yards, watching the ball down nicely before striking, the goalkeeper beaten but the effort drifting wide.

There was still time for one final chance on 90+8. Luke Spokes won the ball superbly, drove forward and unleashed a shot that Jones was forced to save, ensuring the margin remained a single goal.

In truth, Harriers created enough to make the scoreline more comfortable but, with a clean sheet in the bank and three more points on the board, there was little you could fault about a superb all-round showing against a top outfit.

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