Longbottom 26; Brown 52, 87
Key Moments
- Brown brace among the goals
- Longbottom nets first for club
- Four missing for Harriers
- Big clean sheet on the road
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HARRIERS put in one of their showings of the season to see off highly-fancied Southport 3-0 on Saturday.
After withstanding some pressure at the start of the game, Harriers were good value for a lead at the break thanks to Will Longbottom's first goal for the club.
Longbottom turned supplier for Andre Brown seven after the break to make it 2-0, Brown doing things all on his own in the final three minutes as his superb solo effort, curling into the top corner, sealed the points.
Southport had started the day the brighter of the two teams, and ought to have taken the lead through a header from Curtis Jones that landed wide of the target.
Longbottom's 26th minute goal, as he stabbed home from a corner, was the visitors' first serious chance of the day but certainly wasn't their last - home goalkeeper Mark Halstead did well to keep out a second for the on-loan youngster, a low save with his feet to spurn a shot, after Declan Weeks had also seen a free-kick parried.
It was a strong end to the half for Harriers and an even brighter beginning to the second, the second goal arriving as Longbottom stole the ball at the by-line before pulling it back for Brown who swept it into the net.
Home chances were becoming more rare - Lee Croft seeing on effort held before Sonupe and then, latterly, Andre Wright went close as John Eustace's men battled for a third, a goal that duly arrived courtesy of Brown as he curled an effort into the top corner on the break.
Southport
Kidderminster Harriers
Southport
Jones 76 Croft 53 Cockerline 53Substitutes
Roberts 76 Zama 53 Sang 53 Kidderminster Harriers
Digie 90+1 Wright 72 Finch 88Substitutes
Taylor 90+1 Sonupe 72 Longbottom 88ANDRE WRIGHT is keen for Harriers not to lose heart of confidence as they continue the season at Southport on Saturday.
While the reds still remain in touching distance of the chasing pack, a mixed run of results has produced an inconsistent beginning to the campaign.
Now, after consecutive home draws against Boston United and Curzon Ashton in the last week, the team must head back out on the road.
They do so to make the journey first of all to Southport on Saturday – an opponent themselves smarting after a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Stockport last time out.
Looking ahead, Wright knows that Harriers may be a little less positive in their outlook than they would be had they fought back to secure a draw on Tuesday rather than being pegged back in such dramatic circumstances.
As it is, he says, the team must keep plugging away – though ensure they do so until the final whistle blows at Southport.
“The fact that they scored in the last minute just disheartened everyone,” he admitted.
“We played so well and I thought we were on top for the majority of the game.
“The boys really deserved the win, especially with what I’ve heard about how the first few games have gone.
it doesn’t just take being on top to win a game, it takes [doing it] throughout and not letting anything slip.” Andre Wright
“Seeing us now and how we play and how we can dominate teams and create chances, we’re miles ahead – [but] we just need that little bit of luck for when that ball is landing in and around us, and for it to land on our side instead of the opposition’s.
“You can be on top for 90 or 94 minutes of a game, but it only takes a split-second for a goal to happen.
“That’s where the experience comes in and that ruthlessness to know that it doesn’t just take being on top to win a game, it takes [doing it] throughout and not letting anything slip.”
The youngster, signed on a deal until the end of the season last week, knows there will be a backlash of sorts to face on Saturday against the Sangrounders, who’d previously made a great start to the campaign.
But he added: “We understand the challenge we’ve got at Southport but the boys are more concerned with what we need to do.
“If we do what we need to do then we can beat teams.”
Harriers remain without Lee Vaughan and Liam Truslove with injury this weekend.
Wright and Will Longbottom, another recent arrival, will be keen for more game time after making two substitute appearances each thus far.
Kick-off at Southport on Saturday is at 3:00pm
WATCH: Andre Wright’s full video interview by clicking the video tab above.
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Andre Wright pre-match
Will Longbottom post-match
Matt Gardiner post-match
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