Recap: Harriers defeat Oxford

---

HARRIERS picked up a third home win of the season with a comprehensive success against Oxford City. 

Ashley Hemmings was once again amongst the goals and, before he did net, he had the first real Harriers chance on 19 minutes when Maz Kouhyar and Caleb Richards combined to set him up, a finish on the stretch from the talisman met by a strong save by Oxford goalkeeper McKenzie-Lyle.

The hosts, thankfully, didn’t have much longer to wait before the breakthrough arrived – four minutes in fact, as Paul Downing met a corner delivery, nodding it down to Ben Beresford who took it down at the far post before finishing at close range.

It proved to be a quick-fire double. Hemmings was on the mark again as Kouhyar supplied the ammunition, a deep cross met by a fantastic twist and head inside the area from the Harriers No.10 who saw his header find the net.

Six before the break, Maliq Cadogan took aim from around 20 yards with an effort that looked set to arrow into the bottom corner before zipping just past the foot of the post instead.

On the stroke of half time it was another chance for Cadogan thanks to great work by sub Seb Thompson who drove to the by-line before fizzing a firm cross back along the six yard area that came a little too quickly for his team mate, the ball bouncing off his boot and high over the bar.

The visitors had seemingly thought the chances of their day worsening before the break had vanished wit that opportunity, but Kouhyar had other ideas when he chanced down McKenzie-Lyle, driving the keeper’s clearance back towards goal where it rolled over the line for 3-0.

Thompson had replaced the injured Beresford in the first half and, early in the second, looked to have got himself in on goal before being fouled by City’s former Harrier, Cole Kpekawa, who was given a red card for his efforts. From the resultant free kick, Luke Summerfield forced a good save from McKenzie-Lyle before Zak Brown’s follow-up volley went over the bar.

Summerfield then supplied Downing with another free kick four minutes later as an unlikely duo combined, but the latter’s finish crashed into the side netting from close range.

A grand total of ten substitutions across both teams certainly disjointed the game somewhat, but Harriers remained in total control and negotiated the day without conceding a single, meaningful chance on goal.

🚀Sebastian #Harriers 🦅 pic.twitter.com/x5HqcS6p5u

— Kidderminster Harriers 🦅 (@khfcofficial) August 26, 2024

Late chances to extend the lead for the Reds came from Reiss McNally’s downward header that McKenzie-Lyle saved, before a simply sublime free kick from Thompson sealed the win at 4-0, the shot-stopper not standing a chance.

Cadogan struck the upright in the final seconds of normal time but, by then, the points had long been secured.

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

---

---