Stafford Rangers 1(0) v (1)2 Kidderminster Harriers

Football Conference National - Marston Road - 26 December 2006

Attendance: 1758

Individual Stats
Stafford
Shots
Fouls
Off.
v Kidderminster
Shots
Fouls
Off.
 
On
Off
For
Ag
     
On
Off
For
Ag
 
Danny Alcock 5 0(2) 0 0 0 0 [17/1] Scott Bevan 7 0(3) 0 0 0 0
Richie Sutton 5 0 0 2 0 0 [26/2] Jeff Kenna 5 0 0 1 0 0
Nathan Talbott 5 0 0 2 1 0 [3] Jonny Harkness 5 0 1 1 0 0
Wayne Daniel 6 1(1) 0 1 0 0 [5/6] Stuart Whitehead 7 0 1 1 0 0
Craig McAughtrie 6 1 1 1 1 0 [4/5] Mark Creighton 5 0 0 1 1 1
Ged Murphy 5 0 0 4 4 0 [27/4] Gavin Hurren 5 0 1 2 5 0
Robin Gibson 5 1(1) 1 2 2 0 [11/15] Simon Russell 6 0 0 0 2 0
Chris Basham 5 0 0 0 0 0 [23/16] Russ Penn 5 1 1 2 3 0
Neil Grayson 5 1 2 3 2 0 [9/22] Iyseden Christie 7 0 0 2 3 2
Guy Madjo 5 1(1) 0 0 2 1 [12/26] James Constable 7 4(2) 1 0 1 0
Danny Edwards 5 0 0 1 1 1 [15/11] Michael Blackwood 6 0 1 3 2 2
Dolapo Olaoye 5 0 0 0 0 1 [18/9] Andy White 5 0 1 1 0 0
Matty Barlow 5 0 0 0 1 1 [22/14] Luke Reynolds 5 0 0 0 0 0
David Oldfield       [28/18] Brian Smikle      
Liam Murray       [30/25] Rob Davies      
Hopkinson       [/13] Steve Taylor      
Team Stats
  Fouls Conceded Offside Corners Shots On Shots off
Stafford 14 4 7 5 4
Kidderminster 17 5 6 5 7
GOALS
Stafford Kidderminster
82 Craig McAughtrie   42 James Constable  
    57 James Constable  
Formations
Stafford
   Alcock   
Sutton Daniel   McAughtrie Talbott
     
Gibson Basham   Murphy Edwards
     
  Grayson   Madjo  
Kidderminster
   Bevan   
Kenna Whitehead   Creighton Harkness
     
Russell Penn   Hurren Blackwood
     
  Christie   Constable  
SUBSTITUTIONS
Stafford Kidderminster
66 Barlow Madjo Barlow to striker. 88 White Christie White to striker.
66 Olaoye Edwards Olaoye to striker, Murphy to central midfield, Gibson to right central midfield, Basham to left central midfield.  Now 4-3-3. 90+ Reynolds Constable Reynolds to striker.
BOOKINGS
Stafford Kidderminster
   Penn 61 Foul
Constable 68 Dissent
 
Referee: Ian Smedley (Derbyshire)
Match Report by St@tto

Harriers stretched their winning run in the Conference to three games and moved into the top half of the table to their highest position since September 2005.

With a full squad to choose from Mark Yates recalled skipper Stuart Whitehead to the side in place of Rob Davies who dropped down to the bench.  Difficult playing conditions, the pitch was the worst Harriers have played on all season, it was difficult for either side to play any decent football and the game was scrappy for long periods.

On-loan striker James Constable almost gave Harriers the lead after nine minutes, latching on to Iyseden Christie's flick on he shot straight at Stafford keeper Danny Alcock.  Whitehead showed he was worth the recall ten minutes later when he was perfectly positioned to clear Neil Grayson's shot off the line after Scott Bevan had dropped a cross at his feet.  Midway through the half Stafford had an appeal for a penalty turned down when Ged Murphy theatrically fell over in the penalty area.

Russ Penn went close to breaking the deadlock, his shot to the near post after being set up by Jonny Harkness was blocked.  The breakthrough finally came three minutes before the interval; Bevan's long punt was flicked on by Christie into the path of Constable who tucked his shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Early in the second half Harriers doubled their advantage; Mark Creighton lofted the ball into the penalty area and Christie headed it on to Constable who fired in his second of the game and fifth in as many games.  The game still was scrappy and it was late before Harriers had any more chances to make the result safer; Harkness' 30-yard free kick beat the wall and curled just wide of Alcock's right-hand post.

Having failed to put the result beyond doubt Harriers were made to sweat for the last ten minutes after Rangers pulled a goal back; ex-Harrier Wayne Daniel crossed from the left and Craig McAughtrie headed in unchallenged.  With five minutes remaining Bevan was called into action to deny the home team an equaliser; Robin Gibson received the ball in the inside-right channel and unleashed a fierce shot towards the top corner of the net that Bevan did well to reach and tip away for a corner.