Young Harriers Looking Strong Again: Halesowen Town 0-2 Harriers
July 28, 2016

Young Harriers Looking Strong Again: Halesowen Town 0-2 Harriers

Harriers sent a young side to The Grove to take on Halesowen Town and they gave a good account of themselves.

With five academy players in the starting line-up and another four on the bench, alongside a number of trialists, Jared Hodgkiss was the only senior player in the side as made his first appearance since recovering from injury.

Hodgkiss did look good until he took another knock in a heavy challenge from a Town player and had to be replaced just before the half hour.  Harriers took the lead after 20 minutes; Reece Jacobs made a strong run through the inside-right channel before rolling the ball into the opposite channel for a trialist who stroked an excellent shot around Halesowen's young goalkeeper.

Harriers doubled the advantage seven minutes later; the same trialist turned provider but his pass intended for Jacobs was turned into his own net by Town defender Callum Williams.

Halesowen came out after the break fired up and in the first 90 seconds and forced Jono Brown into three good saves - twice from Shrewsbury Town loanee Kaiman Anderson and once from Maradona.

Harriers had to deal with more pressure from the home side but coped well and played the better football.  The best chances fell to the home side, though, but Harriers always looked in control and didn't look like conceding.

By the end of the game Harriers only had nine players on the field after using all of their subs and losing one of the trialists and James Hancocks to injury.  Despite the setbacks Harriers still stood firm and in the last minutes it was academy keeper Tom Palmer who kept them in front with good saves from Town's substitute trialist.