Harriers kept up the pressure on league leaders Macclesfield with a narrow but
comfortable victory over Carlisle at Aggborough.
Harriers were quickly on top, trialist Henrik Jorgenson forced a save from Johnny
Brain with a header from a corner, and went close again soon after. Tony
Bird was lively at centre-forward, playing as if he wanted to force himself
back into the reckoning for a first team place. He had a chance to open
the scoring but the ball came to him quickly and got stuck under his feet and
he could only steer it out for a goal kick.
Andy Corbett and Bird both made Brain work again, while Ben Jones, another
trialist, Michael Keegan and Peter Faulds all also wasted chances. At
the other end Carlisle caused few problems for Harriers' defence. Harriers
keeper John Danby got hurt coming out to gather the ball, colliding with Greame
Mathie and a Carlisle attacker, and spent the rest of the afternoon hobbling and
left most of the goalkicks to be taken by his defenders. Despite the goalkeeper
being handicapped in this way, the visitors didn't put any extra pressure on
him. Harriers took the lead in stoppage time at the end of the first half,
the ball was played in from the right and Andy Corbett scored with a sharply taken
shot at the far post.
The game continued in similar fashion after the break, Michael Keegan in the
centre of midfield was proving influential with his accurate passing and Harriers
continued to create chances but could not increase their advantage. Corbett
twice had shots saved and Ian Joy shot straight at the keeper. As time wore
on Carlisle began to create chances, Danby saved well from substitute Mark Nixon
at the foot of his post and denied the same player later on, but the Harriers
defence stood firm and held on for the points.
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