Match Report

ALTRINCHAM (0) 2 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS (0) 1

Vanarama Conference match
played on Saturday, 29 November 2014, at 3pm

SUMMARY

For the second time in a week Altrincham came from behind to take all three points against a team higher than them in the table. Harriers arrived on a good run of results and they slightly edged the goalless first half without seriously threatening to score. For their part, Alty failed to convert a couple of half chances in the opening stages.

The Harriers took the lead five minutes after the interval. A misplaced pass from James Lawrie allowed Kidderminster to build an attack which Johnson, drifting in from the right, finished with a fine 20-yard shot across Stuart Coburn.

Seven minutes later a fine ball from Densmore set Lawrie free, left of goal, and he finished well to make it 1-1. Altrincham brought on Wilkinson, Williams and Perry and upped the tempo before a fine cross from Griffin was glanced home by the head of Reeves to secure the win (86 mins).

SCORERS:

REFEREE: Mr Ross Joyce (Cleveland)

ATTENDANCE: 1,019 (118 in away end)
TEAM NEWS

Altrincham were again without Nicky Clee (broken toe) and Scott Leather was serving the first game of his three-match suspension. Damian Reeves, Tom Marshall and Ryan Crowther started in place of Steven Gillespie, Kyle Perry and Leather.

LINE-UPS:

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks) 1. Stuart Coburn, 2. Shaun Densmore (c), 5. Gianluca Havern, 16. Tom Marshall, 3. Adam Griffin, 4. Jake Moult, 25. Peter Cavanagh, 8. Simon Richman, 19. Ryan Crowther, 7. James Lawrie, 10. Damian Reeves. Subs: 14. Kyle Perry, 17. Dave Parton, 9. Steven Gillespie, 18. Sean Williams, 15. Greg Wilkinson.

KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS (Amber and purple) 1. Daniel Lewis, 2. Jared Hodgkiss, 30. Josh Gowling, 15. Jamie Grimes, 28. Kevin Nicholson, 17. Aman Verma, 23. Matt Robinson, 7. Jack Byrne, 8. Marvin Johnson, 22. Reece Hales, 10. Craig Reid. Subs: 3. Jake Green, 11. Reece Styche, 14. Ahmed Obeng, 18. Callum Gittings, 20. Tyrone Williams.

BACKGROUND

Mike Garnett reminds us that our record against Kidderminster Harriers, is:

Coincidentally, both teams' previous match had been against Wrexham. Alty had won 3-2 away and the Harriers had drawn 1-1 at home. Despite having to offload several of their highest earners for financial reasons, Kidderminster had been enjoying a good run before their arrival at Altrincham.

REPORT

On a dull afternoon under the floodlights, the Harriers kicked off towards their own supporters. Inside the first minute Reeves brought down Marshall's long ball brilliantly but then Lawrie slipped inside the box as the move faltered.

Alty maintained their early pressure with a low cross from Densmore, before the lively Reeves almost got on to a Marshall through ball. Richman's shot, wide, from 25 yards confirmed that Altrincham had started the game on the front foot (3 mins). Kiddy now began to get into the game and a Robinson shot flew just wide before Marshall had to cover a counter attack after Alty had been halted going forward (6 mins).

Following a long throw, Kiddy won a corner, which Marshall hacked clear. Next, Nicholson overhit a freekick from 45 yards out, conceded by Richman, for a goalkick. When Moult was fouled, keeper Lewis missed Densmore's freekick and a corner was conceded off a defender. From a short corner, Lewis parried Cavanagh's well-hit shot then Crowther's follow up was blocked before, eventually, Lewis got hold of the ball (11 mins).

After Hales had got past Marshall, he won a corner. At this stage Alty had Reeves up front, Crowther on the left and Lawrie to the right.

Next, Reid fired just wide after Griffin had misheaded the ball as he was jostled. It was now an end to end game but neither keeper was troubled before a Hodgkiss cross went to Coburn, whilst at the other end Lewis fumbled the ball before gathering it (29 mins).

Alty were certainly matching their more highly placed opponents as a Richman shot was blocked from a Cavanagh feed before a Crowther cross arrived, just too high, for Lawrie. Harriers won the next corner (38 mins). This was half-cleared before a Nicholson cross led to a shot over the bar as Kiddy had better of this period of the game.

Alty responded when a long ball won a corner on the right. The home side finished the half on top as Richman did well and fed Reeves who won a freekick. But the half ended goalless; there had been plenty of end to end play but neither keeper had been very busy.

Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM 0 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS 0

Whilst the Harriers were out early to do some warm-up routines, one of the assistant referees was sent to get Alty out of the dressing room! Following an uneventful few minutes, Lawrie got to the byline behind the keeper but his ball back into the six-yard box was cleared. Moments later, Lawrie's misdirected pass gave away possession and the Harriers broke from their own half.

The ball was worked to Johnson, who drifted in from the right before driving a strong shot into the far corner of the net from 25 yards, right of goal (50 mins). It was the fourteenth time Alty had conceded the opening goal in a match this season and, only once, at Wrexham last week, had they come back to win the game.

After a few undistinguished minutes, Richman did well and had a shot saved. But then Kidderminster threatened and Alty found themselves at sixes and sevens before hacking the ball clear from their own box (56 mins). After Richman had been tripped, the quickly taken freekick led to Moult going down in the box, but play continued. Soon, a great reverse ball from Densmore put Lawrie clear and from left of goal he scored well with a low shot to make it 1-1 (57 mins).

Next, a scuffed Lawrie shot won a corner following which Moult won a second corner. From this Havern glanced an excellent header across the face of goal (59 mins). Alty's good play continued as a move between Moult and Richman culminated in Reeves forcing a save (60 mins).

Harriers responded as a Reid was shot beaten out by Coburn and a follow up won a corner. Now former FGR striker Styche replaced Hales and moments later Wilkinson came on for Crowther (62 mins). Wilkinson had an early impact as he fed Lawrie who won a corner, left of goal (63 mins).

Wilkinson did well again soon afterwards, as he fed Reeves, who went down in the box. After 68 minutes a Wilkinson curler was saved by Lewis from a Richman feed. Now Williams came on for Moult (69 mins). Alty were now playing well.

Having kept his cards in his pocket till the 76th minute, Mr. Joyce now booked Styche after he had jumped into Marshall; he was to book six players in the final stages of the game.

Next in the book was a card for Byrne after he had brought down Wilkinson (80 mins). Now Perry replaced Lawrie, and Obeng came on for Reid (81 mins). However a blatant foul on Reeves produced a freekick but no caution. Densmore's freekick was put over the bar by Reeves (82 mins). Altrincham were finishing the game strongly and from a Densmore freekick, a smart backheel from Perry went narrowly wide (83 mins).

Altrincham's second goal arrived in the 86th minute when a fine Griffin cross was expertly glanced home by Reeves's head from a central position. Immediately, Kidderminster introduced Gittings for Robinson. When play resumed Perry was booked for a needless foul near the touchline.

Kiddy now overhit a corner before Richman became the game's fourth booking as he hauled back Johnson (89 mins). After Perry had been dispossessed it took a great Marshall tackle to halt Obeng. Deep into added time, Gowling tripped Reeves and was booked. And in the fourth and final added minute, Mr Joyce stopped the game with Reeves heading goalwards to go back and book Gittings for a foul on Perry in the build-up.

So, for the second time in a week, Altrincham had come back from behind to take three points. With the season now half completed, Alty have amassed 28 points, a rate of points gathering which, if repeated over the second half of the campaign, would ensure their continued place in the top level of non=-League football.

Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM 2 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS 1
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