Under-18s Suffer First Defeat: Harriers Youth 1-4 Stourbridge Youth
October 12, 2015

Under-18s Suffer First Defeat: Harriers Youth 1-4 Stourbridge Youth

Harriers' Midland Floodlit Youth League side suffered their first defeat of the season, losing a top-of-the-table clash to Stourbridge.

A feisty local derby saw both sides giving everything.  The visitors were first to threaten the scoreline with Darragh Bustin's shot from distance turned round the post by Tom Palmer for a corner.

It was Harriers, however, who took the lead in the 19th minute; Jacob Wint's strong run into the penalty area ended with his shot saved by Tom Hayward, the ball ricocheted to Matt Evans who was left with an easy tap in for his third goal of the season.

Evans should have doubled the advantage soon afterwards but he sent his header from Connor Lawrence's right wing cross across the face of goal and wide of the far post.  Harriers were left to rue that missed chance on the half hour when Stourbridge drew level; Shay Palmer's corner from the left turned in at the near post by Elliott Davies.

The game opened up and became end-to-end; Harriers' Charlie Gregg hit the post fro 20 yards with Hayward well beaten while at the other end Jacob Wedderburn headed over the bar from Palmer's cross.

After the break the visitors stepped up their performance and could have gone ahead when Connor Hughes sliced an attempted clearance goalwards but Palmer was alert enough to save.

The second goal for Stourbridge came moments later; Brandon Hague slotting home at the near post after being set up by Bustin's pass through the inside-left channel.  On the hour the visitors increased their advantage when Harriers failed to clear a free-kick from deep on the right and Davies was on hand to fire in at the far post.

Davies completed his hat-trick, and the scoring, 12 minutes from the end; Hague got to the byline on the left, his low cross was fumbled by Palmer and Davies was on hand to knock the ball over the line.

Despite the defeat Harriers stay second in the league but are now five points adrift of leaders Stourbridge.