Recap: Harriers 6-0 Southport

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HARRIERS stormed to their biggest win of the season – for the second time in a matter of weeks – as they mercilessly thumped Southport 6-0 at Aggborough.

With confidence still fragile from results and performances in recent weeks – even allowing for the 5-0 win over Curzon – this was a much-needed boost for confidence, and the goal scoring figures.

After Southport had enjoyed a good beginning on the ball, it was Ashley Hemmings on 17 minutes who fired his team in front and set the tone for the remainder of the afternoon. His goal owed much to the sheer brilliance of Matty Stenson who, on his first Harriers start, tied his man in knots before firing an excellent cross low to the far post where Hemmings was on hand to turn it past Cameron Mason.

Stenson actually almost scored himself a minute later, swivelling superbly to meet a volley inside the area from Sterling’s cross, but that effort flew over. With just half an hour on the clock, though, it was 2-0 when Sterling reached maximum speed to chase down a nudge forward by Hemmings, cutely chipping the ball over Mason and sending it into the back of the net.

The visitors did have their sights of goal. Before the break Cameron blocked superbly to deny Walton a clear sight of goal not long after Penny had done similar to keep out another advance.

Three before the hour it was almost 3-0 as Morgan-Smith prowled. He watched down a long delivery into the area and shot, Mason equal to it as he produced a low save. Eight after that hour mark it was indeed three; Stenson hogging the ball before laying it off into the path of Hemmings who blasted a finish into the far corner, stinging Mason’s fingertips as it flew past him.

Two minutes later, Hemmings might well have had his hat-trick but was thwarted by an alert save from Mason. The custodian was busy again on 77 minutes as Harriers extended their lead further, initially saving Morgan-Smith’s header, but unable to stop the striker turning the ball past him and into the net whilst on the ground.

At that point Southport had been well beaten for a while, but there was still time for Harriers to net two more goals to ensure the win was even more comprehensive. 5-0 arrived on the 87th minute as relentless sub Ethan Freemantle charged down a delayed clearance by Mason before racing past him to ensure the ball ended up in the net.

The sixth goal was easily the sweetest for any Harriers fan. It was six minutes into added time at the end of the day and came courtesy of the forehead of Cliff Moyo, who’d come on with just nine left of normal time. A fine free-kick delivery saw him rise highest – and by some way – in the area, firing a header into the net to score on his first appearance at Aggborough since his injury in pre-season last July, and just a couple of feet from where it had happened.

Luke Simpson ran the length of the field to throw himself among the celebrations – Moyo mobbed by his entire brood as they rushed to congratulate him. A wonderful end to a sound afternoon’s work for those in red.

Get full team line-ups and key match facts at the Match Centre.

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