Harriers share six-goal thriller
Kidderminster Harriers started their campaign with a hard earned point in a six-goal thriller at big–spending Alfreton Town.
Harriers’ new manager Neil McFarlane, appointed following the departure of John Eustace to Queens Park Rangers during the summer, included a number of his new signings as the heat took its toll on the players of both sides.
He must have been encouraged by the performance as the visitors looked lively and pressed high to deny a more experienced Alfreton side space to create opportunities but they trailed 2-1 at the interval.
Harriers took the lead midway through the first half, Declan Weeks and Sam Austin combining to release Dan Bradley whose right foot shot from 20 yards nestled in the bottom left corner of Sam Ramsbottom’s net.
Harriers were dangerous, Tom Denton almost turned Weeks right wing cross into his own net and Ashley Chambers hammered the cross bar from the resultant corner kick.
On 32 minutes, Alfreton were level Tom Platt rising to flick on Bobby Johnson’s left wing corner as Harriers failed to mark from the set piece. On the stroke of half time the visitors defence were undone once more, Craig King cut in from the right and his chip to the far post allowed Tom Denton to head home from close range.
Harriers were forced into a change during the break, Ashley Chambers had taken a knock and Kane Richards took to the field, his impact was immediate firing Harriers level from Sam Austin’s cut back on 47 minutes.
Richards involvement almost put paid to James Clifton as the last defender he was more than relieved to see the referee brandish just a yellow card rather than the red which perhaps was justified.
The visitors went ahead for the second time on 67 minutes Joe Ironside displaying great close control to turn and fire past Ramsbottom from ten yards.
Ironside almost netted a second as he rose to meet Dan Bradley’s inviting cross but his effort flew narrowly wide.
The game always felt that it had another goal in it and it came as no surprise late on as the home side pushed forward for an equaliser
Alfreton kept going and on 84 minutes they were awarded a penalty, Billy Daniels was adjudged to have impeded Josh Wilde and Bobby Johnson stepped up to drill his penalty inside Brandon Hall’s right hand post to being them level.
Alfreton Town: Ramsbottom, Clifton, Wilde, Platt, Lane, Shiels, Johnson, Hotte (Chettle 73), Denton, Peniket, King (Bateson 83). Subs Not Used Bacon, Nicholson, Clarke
Kidderminster Harriers: Hall, Vaughan, Austin, O’Connor, Horsfall, Johnson, Weeks, Daniels, Ironside, Chambers (Richards 46), Bradley. Subs Not Used Williams, Taylor, Baxendale, Digie
