Recap: Harriers 3-0 Kettering

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HARRIERS will contest the National League North play-off for the second season running after gate-crashing the top seven on the final day of the term.

The Reds knew they needed to win against Kettering Town at Aggborough and also have results elsewhere to go their way to achieve their aim – one that looked close to unthinkable at the start of April.

Boss Russ Penn said after the game that phones in and around the dugout had been banned so as to ensure full focus on the task in hand. In truth, results ended up going the side’s way for almost the whole afternoon.

The most important factor of the day was getting the job done in DY10 and, against a Kettering side desperately clawing to keep their place in National League North, it was no easy ask.

A tense first half had the Poppies the far happier of the two camps at the break – they were safe, but at 0-0, the score had Harriers remaining in ninth and looking longingly at the play-offs.

It wasn’t a half without chances – Joe Leesley had an effort over the bar in the opening couple of minutes, while Ashley Hemmings had a brace of chances, too.

Mason in the Kettering goal had blocked bravely from Krystian Pearce’s header on the half-hour, but was rooted to the spot when Zak Brown side-footed the ball wide of the target from ten yards in the half’s final moments.

If Harriers carried the weight of their season on their shoulders when they re-emerged after the second half, it didn’t show. They needed just 90 seconds to take the lead, Joe Foulkes coolly finishing for his first goal of the season at  the far post, tucking away a Joe Leesley cross.

From that moment, the Reds were in the top seven and never looked like falling. Come the hour it was almost 2-0, but Morgan-Smith was denied by the woodwork at close range before firing an rebound over the bar.

Five minutes later it was 2-0 and in some style. Richards advanced into space and teed up Leesley who side-stepped his man before driving the ball into the top corner for his very first Harriers goal.

That finally lifted some of the remaining tension from around the home ends of Aggborough, and Harriers comfortably went about the rest of their afternoon.

On 77 minutes the result was put beyond doubt by top scorer Ashley Hemmings to took his tally to the season to 13 after a trademark long-range finish into the net, followed by a trademark celebration.

Christian Dibble made the best of his saves at 3-0 as a swerving effort threatened to breach the home side for the first time on the day, but there was no way through for the visitors.

The final whistle, sadly, saw Kettering’s relegation confirmed by virtue of results elsewhere – business at other venues also sealing Harriers’ fate in extending the season by a few more days at the very least.

Get full team news and key match facts at The Match Centre.

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