Match Report

KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS (0) 0 ALTRINCHAM (1) 1

FA Trophy Round Two match
played on Saturday, 10 January, 2015, at 3pm

SUMMARY

After Damian Reeves had scored a fine goal in the 20th minute, and Craig Reid had blasted a Kidderminster penalty over the bar, just before the interval, Alty retained their deserved lead. But Harriers dominated the second half with goalkeeper Coburn being Alty's hero with a series of outstanding blocks and saves.

SCORERS:

REFEREE: Mr Paul Rees (Somerset)

ATTENDANCE: 1,204 (136 from Altrincham). Coincidentally 1,204 was also the gate in Alty's last game, at Eastleigh.
TEAM NEWS

Before the match Kidderminster reported that "centre backs Jordan Tunnicliffe and Tyrone Williams were cup-tied, after playing in the competition for Sutton Coldfield and Romulus respectively.

Also, defender Josh Gowling was recovering from medial ligament damage and striker Jamie Spencer was also ineligible, after playing in the competition for Redditch, while Aman Verma was sidelined by a back problem.

However, on the eve of the game they signed 19 year-old Birmingham City Nathaniel Kelly and Port Talbot Town striker Keyon Reffell on loan.

Altrincham's major doubts before the game were Peter Cavanagh and James Lawrie and both were missing from the squad today.

LINE-UPS:

KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS (Red and white) 1. Daniel Lewis, 2. Jared Hodgkiss, 15. Jamie Grimes, 28. Kevin Nicholson, 7. Jack Byrne, 4. Kyle Storer, 5. Nathaniel Kelly, 18. Callum Gittings, 10. Craig Reid, 29. Akwasi Asante, 8. Marvin Johnson. Subs: 3. Jake Green, 11. Reece Styche, 14. Ahmed Obeng, 6. Kennedy Digie, 23. Keyon Reffell.

ALTRINCHAM (Yellow and blue):1. Stuart Coburn, 2. Shuan Densmore (capt), 5. Gianluca Havern, 16. Tom Marshall, 3. Adam Griffin, 4. Jake Moult, 8. Simon Richman, 19. Ryan Crowther, 10. Damian Reeves, 11. Nicky Clee, 18. Sean Williams. Subs: 6. Scott Leather,9. Steven Gillespie, 14. Kyle Perry, 17.Dave Parton, 20. Joel Swift

BACKGROUND

In the league match between these sides at Aggborough earlier this season, Harriers won 4-0. However, Alty had won 2-1 in the reverse fixture.

Mike Garnett reminds us of the overall record between the two clubs...

REPORT

On a bitterly cold but brightish afternoon, Altrincham kicked off, defending the away end. The pitch was in better condition than might have been expected from the pre-match publicity. However, it was not a brilliant surface and the blustery wind made playing conditions tricky.

After some impressive skill by Marshall, as he cleared up following a Williams error, the Harriers won an early corner on their right through Byrne. From this Marshall's header gave the hosts another corner, this time, on their left (3 mins).

As the players came to terms with the conditions, Alty's first threat was a Williams shot, which was too high, from a Richman feed. It had been an evenish start before Coburn produced a good save from a Gittings effort from 20 yards, which was cleared for a corner (8 mins).

Next,a Storer error led to a Crowther cross and, from Reeves's back post header, Lewis just managed to tip the ball over the bar but Clee's corner was cleared (13 mins). There was little more in the way of goalmouth action until the 19th minute, when Asante turned well on the edge of the box and his snap shot drew another fine save from Coburn, low down.

As Coburn kicked a long clearance, Reeves got onto it and lashed the ball home, across keeper Lewis, from right of goal near the front edge of the box to give Altrincham the lead (20 mins).

Kidderminster responded with a corner on their left, followed by a shot which deflected for another corner, again by Reid on the left. Gittings put a free header wide from this corner (22 mins). As Alty fans prematurely chorused "Wemb-er-ley", their team won a freekick for a foul on Densmore.

As the half-hour past, Alty were doing well in the difficult playing conditions. After Richman had been halted from a Reeves feed, the same player was fouled near half-way.

Aferwards, a fine Densmore cross was grabbed by keeper Lewis. Now, with a Kidderminster player down, Alty kicked the ball out and the injured player got up immediately. Another fierce cross came in from Densmore but Reeves's header at the near post was misdirected wide (34 mins).

Now, Harriers man Johnson needed treatment and had to be replaced by their new signing from Port Talbot town, Reffell (37 mins). But when Reeves was hurt in a challenge, the Harriers would not put the ball out despite Alty having previously done so for them (38 mins).

A great Williams ball came off Crowther's head and was cleared as Alty looked quite comfortable with their lead but then Byrne won his side a penalty after a dribble into the box but Reid blasted the spot kick well over the bar (43 mins).

Griffin now halted the lively Reffell, who then wasted a crossing opportunity by putting the ball behind the net. In the last of the two added minutes the home side's poor shooting continued as Gittings fired well over the bar.

So, at the break, Alty deservedly led 1-0.

Half-Time: KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS 0 ALTRINCHAM 1

A fairly uneventful opening few minutes ended when Havern fouled Reffell 35 yards from goal. After the freekick, taken by Nicholson, Reffell had a shot cleared off the line (52 mins). Another Harriers' freekick soon followed, from 30 yards out. Following this, some desperate Alty defending got the ball half clear, before a shot was lashed well over the bar (54 mins).

Now Styche replaced Reid for the home side (55 mins). But it was Alty who now won a corner, taken on the left by Crowther. As the Harriers counter-attacked, Griffin halted Asante from a Reffell feed. Harriers were now looking more potent as, on the hour, Byrne headed over the bar from a Storer cross.

Crowther was replaced by Perry (60 mins) before Havern was penalised 25 yards out and was booked (64 mins). However, Nicholson overhit the freekick for an Alty goalkick.

For Alty, Richman made space well but fired well over from the edge of the box. Soon, Asante got past Havern and Coburn had to execute a great block before Reffell blasted the loose ball well off target (66 mins).

Just after Reeves had chased down keeper Lewis, who cleared the ball in time, Storer was well wide from 30 yards. At this point, Leather came on for Clee, so Densmore moved into right midfield as Leather went to right back (74 mins).

Kiddy's wayward shooting continued as Asante fired over after a Havern clearance had fallen to him. Then the ball ricocheted around Alty's box and, eventually, Kiddy won a corner. After this, Coburn saved impressively with his feet from Reffell before Hodgkiss blasted a shot well over the bar (76 mins).

Next, a Reffell cross shot was pushed away by Coburn, who was keeping Alty in the lead with a string of fine saves (78 mins). Williams, who was popping up all over the pitch, now hacked the ball clear as Alty remained under the cosh.

Some respite arrived when Densmore was felled by Gittings as the Alty captain advanced up the right (82 mins) As the 136 Altrincham fans in a gate of 1204 gave their side vocal support, Coburn next saved a Nicholson 20-yarder (86 mins).

After 87 minutes, Gillespie replaced Reeves. Following this, Williams was penalised, 30 yards out in a central position, and he was booked (88 mins). Yet another great save from Coburn pushed Nicholson's freekick away,

Five minutes of added time saw Perry win and then concede a freekick in the Harriers' half before yet another off-beam Harriers shot, this time, miles over the bar, by Asante (90+3 mins). Alty saw out the closing minutes to advance into the last sixteen with a win which owed a lot to keeper Stuart Coburn and his defence, assisted by profligate finishing from the Harriers.

Full-Time: KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS 0 ALTRINCHAM 1
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