Recap: Summer ends with Stoke win

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A GOAL in each half earned Harriers a 2-0 win to wrap up their pre-season campaign against a young Stoke City XI at Aggborough.

Chances didn’t quite flow as freely in this one as they did in the first half of the game against Newport last weekend, but with quarter of an hour gone, Maz Kouhyar fired a firm, angled effort across goal and wide.

Three minutes later, Harriers had the lead when a delightful ball into the area from Caleb Richards dropped on to the head of Ashley Hemmings who once again bagged a pre-season goal with a well-taken header into the net.

Three past the half-hour, Harriers hunted in a pack and were almost rewarded with a second goal. Zak Brwon and Amari Morgan-Smith both played their part in setting up Maliq Cadogan who drove firmly at goal and forced a strong save from goalkeeper Noah Cooper.

Harriers doubled their lead five minutes into the second half, Amari Morgan-Smith following up from close range to finish after Hemmings was initially denied, his clever finish kept out by the goalkeeper.

Ten minutes later Hemmings almost converted again; Kouhyar holding the ball up and playing back into his path, the talisman denied by a good stop from Cooper who managed to dive on the ball in the nick of time.

Seb Thompson drove wide from around 18 yards for Harriers before, with six minutes left, there was a big chance for Stoke to reduce the deficit, Kieron Willox lifting the ball over the bar when through to face Christian Dibble.

The season proper begins for Harriers next weekend at Darlington and away travel remains available.

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