Report as Harriers get themselves back to winning ways at Aggborough…
By Matty Paddock - 02/01/2019
Posted 7 years ago
HARRIERS got 2019 off to the perfect start with a New Year’s Day victory over Hereford.
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The hosts put in arguably their most dominant and controlled showing for many, many weeks. They went behind against the run of play to a close-range James Roberts goal at an indirect free-kick, but were level 19 seconds after the kick-off as Kane Richards Struck.
Harriers then went down to ten men following the dismissal of Ryan Johnson, but went ahead in spectacular style as Declan Weeks fired home. Harriers then dominated the second half before digging in to see the tie out for the final quarter-hour.
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Harriers had got off to an encouraging start, with Hereford needing to defend well against the likes of Waring and Weeks.
It was Hereford who struck first, though, with 19 minutes on the clock. After the referee had adjudged Lee Vaughan’s nudge to Brandon Hall as a back-pass, Roberts did brilliantly at close range to slam the ball into the top corner.
The response was immediate, though, as great skill from Waring played in Chambers – his cross met at the far post as Richards applied the telling touch under the attentions of a defender.
The goal really fired Harriers up, and six minutes later they strode forward with the first of a raft of chances – Chambers twice denied at a free-kick, Weeks firing over, Richards hitting wide and Horsfall seeing his half-volley kept out by a good block.
Past the half-hour, O’Connor and Austin both went close before the sending off – Johnson coming together with Owen-Evans, but recklessly so in the view of the referee who flashed a straight red.
Harriers eased concerns they’d struggle with then men in real style; barely a minute had elapsed after the first goal when Weeks, from 20 yards, struck superbly and first time into the top corner.
The goal moved the home side into the ascendancy and they remained their virtually until the end of the game with some superb football.
Past the hour, Weeks found Vaughan who chested the ball before forcing Yates into a smart parry, Horsfall’s shot blocked on the follow-up.
Hereford had opportunities to draw level but never really troubled Brandon Hall. Gowling struck over at a corner and Cullaine-Liburd headed wide with another good opening before, on 76, Roberts shot off target when in a good position.
Greenslade had the game’s final attempt with five minutes to go but his arrowed effort was again wayward as Harriers saw off the danger.
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