Kidderminster Harriers 1(0) v (1)2 Stevenage Borough

Football Conference National - Aggborough - 25 November 2006

Attendance: 1584

Individual Stats
Kidderminster
Shots
Fouls
Off.
v Stevenage
Shots
Fouls
Off.
 
On
Off
For
Ag
     
On
Off
For
Ag
 
Scott Bevan 4 0(1) 0 0 0 0 [1] Alan Julian 6 0(4) 0 1 0 0
Jeff Kenna 6 0 0 1 1 0 [2] Barry Fuller 5 0 0 0 0 0
Michael Blackwood 6 0 1 4 1 0 [11/3] John Nutter 5 0 0 1 2 0
Stuart Whitehead 5 0 0 2 2 0 [6/25] Ronnie Henry 5 0 0 1 3 0
Mark Creighton 5 1(1) 0 1 0 0 [5/4] Luke Oliver 6 1 0 1 2 0
Gavin Hurren 6 0 2 1 2 0 [4/26] Mark Beard 5 0 0 2 0 0
Simon Russell 5 0 0 1 1 0 [15/10] Adam Miller 5 0 1 3 1 0
Rob Davies 5 1(1) 2 3 2 0 [25/12] Bradley Johnson 5 0 0 0 1 0
Iyseden Christie 7 2(1) 1 2 3(1h) 4 [22/11] George Boyd 7 2(1) 2 2 5 4
James Constable 6 2(1) 2 1 1 3 [26/20] Steve Morrison 5 0 2 3 1 0
Russ Penn 5 0 2 1 2 0 [16/21] Steve Guppy 5 0 0 0 0 0
Jonny Harkness 5 0 0 0 0 0 [3/22] Craig Dobson 5 0 1 1 1 0
Andy White 5 0 0 0 1 0 [9/23]Dale Binns     
Brian Smikle 5 0 0 0 1 0 [18/27] Hasim Deen 5 0 0 1 1 0
Bob Taylor     [24/30] Tyron Sealey 5 0 0 0 0 0
Steve Taylor     [13/16]Danny Potter     
Team Stats
  Fouls Conceded Offside Corners Shots On Shots off
Kidderminster1778610
Stevenage174436
GOALS
Kidderminster Stevenage
47Iyseden Christie 8Luke Oliver 
   55George Boyd 
Formations
Kidderminster
  Bevan  
KennaWhitehead CreightonBlackwood
     
RussellDavies HurrenPenn
     
 Christie Constable 
Stevenage
  Julian  
FullerHenry OliverNutter
  Beard  
Miller Johnson Guppy
     
 Boyd Morrison 
SUBSTITUTIONS
Kidderminster Stevenage
68HarknessWhiteheadHarkness to left central defender.27DeenFullerDeen to right back.
86WhiteDaviesWhite to striker, Hurren to central midfield, Penn to left central midfield, Russell to right central midfield.  Now 4-3-3.82DobsonBoydDobson to right wing, Guppy to left wing.  Now 4-5-1.
88SmikleKennaSmikle to right back.88SealeyMorrisonSealey to striker.
BOOKINGS
Kidderminster Stevenage
  Johnson 58 Foul
Henry 76 Unsporting Behaviour
Morrison 86 Dissent
 
Referee: Karl Evans (Manchester)
Match Report by St@tto

Harriers' three-game Conference unbeaten run came to an end as sloppy defending allowed to Stevenage to take the points and record just their second away win of the campaign.

Mark Yates made just one change to the team that drew at Exeter, bringing in James Constable for his debut in place of the departed Reuben Reid.  Whereas last week Harriers had been quick to start and take the lead, this time it was their turn to fall behind to an early strike.  Veteran winger Steve Guppy's corner from the left found Luke Oliver after seven minutes who was left completely unmarked in the centre of the penalty area to power an unchallenged header past Scott Bevan.

Harriers created a lot of chances in the remainder of the half; the Stevenage defence looked vulnerable every time the home team attacked.  Constable had a great chance for a debut goal after eleven minutes, receiving Iyseden Christie's flick he turned well and sent a shot narrowly wide of the post.  Shortly afterwards a great passing move involving Gavin Hurren, Rob Davies and Michael Blackwood opened up the visitors with Simon Russell finding Jeff Kenna whose cross from the right was headed wide by Hurren.

Russ Penn won the ball in midfield midway through the half with a challenge that left Stevenage full back Barry Fuller needing treatment, and soon after substitution, and carried it forward through the Borough defence before unleashing a 20-yard drive that went just wide.  Christie finally forced Alan Julian into action in the visitors' goal with a low shot after a neat 1-2 with Constable that didn't really trouble the keeper unduly.  Harriers were nearly caught out in the last minute of the half when George Boyd was left in acres of space in front of goal and fed Steve Morrison on the right, fortunately Michael Blackwood got back to shepherd him away from goal and his shot went wide.

Blackwood was then the creator of Harriers' equaliser two minutes after the break; picking up the ball on the edge of his own penalty area he carried it forward on the left to midfield before launching a long ball over the defence to Christie who brought it down on his chest, turned, and fired a shot into the top corner of the net for his eighth goal of the season.

The scores were level for just seven minutes, however, as Harriers were again sloppy at a set-piece twice failing to clear a free-kick, when the ball was played back over the top again Boyd had beaten the offside trap and lofted the ball over Bevan to restore the visitors' advantage.

Just after the hour mark it could have got even worse when Mark Creighton's header went straight to Bradley Johnson whose pass set Boyd free but he lashed his shot high and wide of the near post.  Boyd then forced Bevan into a save after Morrison had done well to keep the ball in on the byline.  Harriers counter-attacked straight away and Constable had a chance but his shot was well saved by Julian who pushed it over the bar for a corner.

Harriers threw everything forward in the closing minutes and were denied a penalty when Christie's chip appeared to be handled by a borough defender but referee Evans waved play on.  Five minutes of stoppage time were added and Harriers could have leveled the scores at the death when Russell's deep cross from the right found Creighton but his header was weak and straight at Julian who held onto it gratefully.