Disappointment for Harriers who slipped to their third defeat in four matches after a dull encounter that looked
to be heading for a goalles draw until a spark of imagination from Rovers sub Lee Hodges won the game for the
home team.
Harriers looked quite lively in the early stages, new signing Lloyd Dyer showed some trickery on the left wing
and Matt Gadsby, making his first start of the campaign, created the first threat in the opening minutes when
he made a god run on the left but his cross to the far post was just a little to hard for Dean Bennett to
reach. The home team also made themselves felt early in the game, after 13 minutes Dave Savage lifted
the ball over the Harriers backline for Junior Agogo to run onto but his snap shot was pushed onto the crossbar
by Stuart Brock.
After these early exchanges the quality of the game dropped away sharply, Harriers' five man midfield stifled
most things that Rovers tried to do but Bo Henriksen on his own up front was an isolated figure and rarely
got into the action. Most of the goalscoring oportunities were restricted to long-range efforts and
set-pieces. In the last minute of the half Danny Williams blasted a 35-yard effort over the bar and
in stoppage time Paul Tait had a good chance at the other end but he blasted his shot too high.
Not much changed after the break, but the home team came into the game more looking for their first home win of
the season. After 55 minutes Hyde hit a free-kick from 30 yards that beat the wall easily but flew
tamely into the arms of Brock. Three minutes later Rovers had their best chance so far, Tait crossed
from the left to the far post where Hyde got up well and directed a powerful header goalwards that Brock
tipped over for a corner.
At the other end Harriers' best chance so far came five minutes later, a Graham Ward corner from the right
found Gadsby who had been allowed to run into the penalty area unmarked twelve yards out but under no pressure
he headed the ball woefully wide. Shortly afterwards Harriers crafted another good opening when substitute
John Williams found Danny Wiliams and his cross from the right found Henriksen but the Dane, stretching to
reach it, couldn't connect properly.
A minute later the deadlock was broken, a deep cross from the right was carried by the wind beyond the far
post but none of the Harriers defenders reacted as quickly as Tait who did well to keep it in and knocked it
back to substitute Lee Hodges who had time to pick his spot and curl a shot beyond the reach of Brock and into
the top corner.
Having already changed formation from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 with the introduction of John Williams, Harriers brought
on two further subs, Sean Flynn and Andy Bishop, and went to 4-3-3 in the hope of getting something from the
game. In the last five minutes they had a couple of chances: Danny Williams, who had already tried his
luck from long distance with a couple of free-kicks, was presented with another only 25 yards out and in better
position but again he blasted it high and wide; finally in the last minute a foward pass from Flynn was knocked
down by Bishop into the path of Henriksen right in front of goal but he chose the wrong foot to take the shot
with and blasted it miles wide.
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