For the second season in succession Harriers crashed out of the FA Youth Cup in the first round at the hands
of Oadby although it was only the performance of visiting goalkeeper Laurie Pearson that prevented a Harriers
victory.
It was a disastrous start for Hariers as they fell behind after just three minutes, Francis Lynch rifling
a low shot through a crowded penalty area into the bottom corner of the net with Michael Connolly unsighted. It
was not long, however, before Harriers were level, Michael McGrath won the ball in midfield and knocked it
into the path of leading scorer Aaron Farrell who raced clear and took it round Pearson and rolled it into
the empty net.
Farrell could have had a hat-trick in the opening half-hour but three times he was denied by Pearson and
the Oadby keeper also did well to beat out a blistering 25-yard drive from McGrath. The game was
fairly even at this stage and Oadby were also creating chances, Lee Millington and Lynch both had efforts
saved by Connolly. The visitors regained the lead shortly before the interval, a free kick was knocked
short to Lynch who struck a powerful shot that deflected of a defender and caught Connolly stranded out
of position. Three minutes later sloppy play by Harriers led to the third Oadby goal, the ball was
given away easily and it was played across the face of the penalty area to Ronnie White who slotted it
into the back of the net.
After the break the visitors were happy to sit on their lead and allow Harriers most of the possession. The
Reds responded by creating a string of chances as they fought to get back into the game. Everything
that Harriers threw at Pearson he saved, thwarting McGrath and Fitter in close succession as well as shots
from Farrell and Curtis Shaw.
Midway through the half the Oadby keeper finally made a mistake, a McGrath corner from the left looked to
be a straightforward catch for him but instead he palmed it into his own net. Harriers now pressed
even more, two minutes later Simon Fitter got to the byline on the right and played a low cross across the
face of the goal and James Dyke and McGrath both just failed to make contact.
It seemed inevitable that Harriers would equalise, Carl Dudley had a shot blocked and Fitter, Dyke and Paul
Bonar all failed to hit the target as Harriers clocked up fifteen second half shots at goal. As the
game wore on Oadby could see victory in their sights and used as many tricks as they could to waste time,
as a result there was eight minutes of stoppage time added to the end of the game and Harriers nearly snatched
an equaliser even this late, Dudley flashed a shot across the goalmouth and just wide of the far post and
Farrell and McGrath both had shots saved by Pearson. Somehow Oadby managed to keep everything out and
hold on for a dramatic victory. |
