Aaron Farrell's fourth goal of the season, five minutes from the end of the game, was enough to give Harriers
victory and stretch their unbeaten start to the season to five games.
Harriers were given a stern test by their visitors in an often scrappy match that was spoiled by the referee's
whistle which was blown far too often preventing the game from flowing. Despite the resoluteness of
the Leamington team, Harriers had the best of the opening exchanges and twice in the opening twenty minutes
Farrell went close to opening the scoring, first he was thwarted by Luke Cole in the Leamington goal after
a jinking run and secondly when he snatched at a shot which flew wide.
Late in the half Farrell was involved again, chasing after a long through ball and outpacing the defence but
he blazed his shot over the bar. In stoppage time at the end of the half Micheal Xiourouppa headed over
the bar when he got to the ball first at a corner from the left.
Soon after the restart Carl Dudley was the next Harriers player to test Cole, but his low long range shot was
straight at the keeper and was easy for him to field. Leamington stirred themselves shortly afterwards
and Ryan Howell's through ball set Niki Kyriacou bearing down on goal but a well-timed tackle from Kevin Roeton
averted the danger. Howell had the visitor's next good chance with a long range shot that Michael Connolly
just managed to turn past the post.
In the final ten minutes Harriers began to build up the pressure in their search for a winner, a Michael McGrath
pass left Farrell in scoring position, but after beating his marker and taking two attempts to get by Cole
he shot wide of the far post. Five minutes from the end he made amends, a deep cross from the right by
Simon Fitter was only half cleared by Andrew McKinlay and after taking a touch to control it Farrell tucked
it just inside the foot of the post. In the final minute Fitter went close to doubling the advantage
with a free kick that beat the wall but Cole was well placed to save the shot. |
