Recap: Harriers 2-0 Southport

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A GOAL in each half helped Harriers to a 2-0 win over Southport at Aggborough on Saturday. 

In-form Ashley Hemmings made it nine for the season with a sensational first-half effort, while Zak Brown added the second after the restart of an afternoon in which Harriers were largely untroubled.

Southport had arguably started the more strongly of the sides and established a foothold in the game when Harriers powered themselves through the boot of Hemmings who picked up the ball in the middle of the field and advance, letting fly from 20 yards with an effort that goalkeeper Chris Renshaw got fingertips too, but couldn’t stop from clattering on to the bar and into the net.

Nine minutes later the home side had the ball in the net for a second time but were denied a goal when the assistant referee’s flag had been risen to call Amari Morgan-Smith offside, rendering his header redundant.

With 24 on the clock, a sweeping Joe Foulkes cross was narrowly missed a the far post by Tope Obadeyi, Morgan-Smith then nodding over the bar nine further along as pressure continued to build.

As they did in the first half, Southport emerged at the start of the second sharply, but found themselves 2-0 down just before the hour mark, a headed clearance finding Brown 18 yards out who curled a fine finish past Renshaw and into his bottom corner.

Four minutes later, Harriers were close to a third. Obadeyi started a move by setting Hemmings on his way before getting into the six-yard box to meet the resulting cross with a header that crashed over.

The quietest 20-minute spell of the game then followed as Harriers managed a tricky spell of the afternoon with real assurance.

There was still time for one chance for 3-0; sub Maz Kouhyar threaded through on the angle and shooting, Renshaw getting two hands to beat the ball away.

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

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