Harriers pick up three points on a long journey north…
By Matty Paddock - 10/08/2024
Posted 1 year ago
HARRIERS started their season off with a deserved 2-1 win over Darlington at Blackwell Meadows.
Goals from Amari Morgan-Smith and Maz Kouhyar netted three points for Phil Brown’s side.
It was a performance that got what it warranted in respect of the three points, though there was a nervy finish of sorts thanks to Will Hatfield’s superb free kick goal in the final minutes.
It was actually the hosts who worked the first chance of the day with 11 minutes gone when Christian Dibble was called upon to block a shot from Cedric Main.
With 21 on the clock, Harriers were in front as the skipper opened his account for the season in superb style. Luke Summerfield played a major part in the goal, his sweeping pass releasing Kouhyar who superbly crossed for Morgan-Smith to plant a header back across goal and into the far corner.
👌 The delivery, the finish#Harriers 🦅 pic.twitter.com/n8D54ik760
— Kidderminster Harriers 🦅 (@khfcofficial) August 10, 2024
Nine minutes later Dibble had to make a smart save to keep out Maskell’s header, before Zak Brown met Caleb Richards cross, lifting the ball over the bar from 12 yards.
Five minutes after the restart, Kouhyar picked up the ball after a dangerous Joe Foulkes ball wasn’t cleared. He cut inside and shot, but saw his effort fizz over the angle of bar and post.
The second half produced fewer chances than the first, but Harriers defended solidly. With 11 to go, Maskell’s shot from distance was a comfortable take for Dibble, before the all-important second goal arrived.
With the ball played forward and Ashley Hemmings very much offside, the Harriers man wisely left it, freeing Kouhyar to run on to it and, showing real composure, fire it into the far corner of the net.
Seconds later and with his first touch on as a sub, Seb Thompson almost put the game out of sight. Pete Jameson denied him with a smart save, Dibble unable to do anything about Hatfield’s excellent free kick from 25 yards that sailed into the net.
Despite a stack of added time, Harriers held on to see out a valuable win on the road to kick off the new campaign.
Get the full team line-ups and key match facts at The Match Centre.
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