A look back at Saturday’s trip to Boundary Park in the National League
By Matty Paddock - 24/02/2024
Posted 2 years ago
HARRIERS picked up another massive win on the road with a deserved 2-1 victory in front of over 11,000 at Oldham Athletic.
Harriers had a big chance to steal an early lead as early as the third minute as Krystian Pearce of all people got free inside the area, his low shot pulling wide of the far post.
That at least seemed to give the Reds the confidence to keep the ball, and they did so for much of the first half, Sam Bellis seeing one effort deflected by an Oldham challenge.
The opening goal midway through the first half was a thing of beauty. Alex Penny’s driven, pacy run through midfield was ultimately unchallenged and, with the target drawing near, he took aim from 20 yards, leaving Matthew Hudson in goal no chance as the ball smashed home.
That seemed to frustrate the home side and their immense crowd tremendously – to Harriers’ advantage as they looked to press home the lead, Jack Lambert almost catching Hudson off-guard with an effort from the half way line that forced a corner, and Amari Morgan-Smith also driving over with an angled effort from 20 yards.
Hemmings had a chance just before the interval with a swerving effort that flew over Hudson’s frame, chances Harriers were perhaps left to regret not putting away when, on 49 minutes, the Latics pulled level thanks to an angled finish from Nathan Sheron inside the area.
Harriers reacted superbly, however, and – despite a good Dibble save to thwart Raglan from close range – ensured there was no sizable wave of home chances to follow, forcing successive corners – the latter of which saw them re-take the lead when a Hemmings ball found the head of Reiss McNally, whose rising effort sailed over Hudson and into the net.
Until the very final minutes, that was actually the sum total of the day’s goal mouth action as Harriers again resumed control of the game, Dibble without a serious, further save of note to make.
It was actually the visitors who came close to adding to the score – Hemmings sending a free kick narrowly over the target with just four minutes left to play.
Deep into added time at the end, Gold Omotayo and Bellis combined, the latter squeezed through on goal and showing enough strength and energy still in the tank to get towards goal and round Hudson, only for his final shot to bounce off the post.
In the end, it didn’t matter – Harriers and their 700+ fans had the three points they very much deserved.
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