Five minutes after the break, Dean Bennett broke in behind the Glovers defence, but Chris Weale came off his
line quickly and did enough to force Bennett to hurry his shot over the bar. Andy Bishop made his debut 10 minutes
into the half, replacing Jake Edwards who had struggled to get any success against the Kidderminster back-line.
Bishop received a warm round of applause from the home support who had received his services earlier in the season.
Andy Lindegaard had to be alert in his right-back role when a deep cross went in behind Chris Weale, but Lindy
did well to force a header out for a corner, when under severe pressure. From that corner Hugo Rodrigues had to
hack the ball off the line. Despite this sudden wake-up of the Harriers attack, manager Jan Molby decided to
force his attacking options further by making a double substitution, including former Cardiff striker John Williams.
The Glovers made their own changes, with Lee Elam becoming the third Yeovil player this season to be substituted
as a substitute, with Kevin Gall replacing him. Simon Weatherstone dropped into the right-wing slot, meaning
that Gavin Williams switched wings for the third time during the game.
Perhaps because of the introduction of Gall, or the movement of Williams across the park, Kidderminster were
unsettled and a defensive error cost them a goal. Matthew Gadsby kindly gifted Gavin WILLIAMS the ball on
the halfway line, and when he ran straight down the middle of the park, the movement of Kevin Gall and Andy Bishop
towards the wide positions, stretched the Kidderminster defence and Williams was able to run straight through and
plant his shot straight into the corner of the net. 1-0 and the way the team celebrated showed the relief at
taking the lead in a game for the first time in a month.
With their tails firmly up now, the Glovers could have been two more goals to the good within minutes.
A cast iron penalty after Andy Bishop was clattered by Harriers keeper Stuart Brock following a header, was
ignored by both referee Kevin Wright and his linesman despite both having a perfect view of the foul.
Then a minute later, good work by Bishop set up Kevin Gall but when your luck is out, it really is out and Gall's
well struck shot went inches wide of the post.
Kidderminster were having few chances to equalise and only really woke up when they threw bodies forward
in the last ten minutes. They had claims for a penalty turned down when Jesper Christiansen fell in the area under
pressure from Hugo Rodrigues but again Mr Wright was unimpressed, and in the ensuing chaos, Adam Murray's shot
was deflected wide for a corner.
But overall Harriers were making it easy for the Glovers. Poor passing, poor distribution and a tendency to
gift Yeovil players with the ball kept their chances down right up until the final minute when referee Mr Wright
again stole the show with a series of decisions that turned the heat up on the match. Kevin Gall was hauled down
right on the edge of the Kidderminster penalty area, yet Mr Wright bottled the decision, and that lack of action
was to almost prove to be costly.
Kidderminster moved down the other end of the park, and 20 seconds after the foul on Gall, a linesman
adjudged Adam Lockwood's challenge on John Williams to be illegal
and Mr Wright accepted his advice by awarding a penalty despite initially looking to award a corner. The ex-Cardiff
striker proceeded to goad the Yeovil supporters behind the goal and whilst Mr Wright was discussing the merits
of the penalty decision with his linesman, a scuffle, provoked by Williams, broke out in the penalty box, with
Hugo Rodrigues appearing to receive a punch from a Kidderminster player. The match official proceeded to
caution Dean Bennett and Yeovil's Simon Weatherstone for their part in the affray, with Williams somehow getting
off scot-free. Another Williams - Gavin this time - was also cautioned for timewasting after he decided that
Adam Murray's positioning of the ball on the penalty spot was illegal. Mr Wright agreed with the Yeovil winger's
assessment yet still proceeded to caution him!
After a lengthy delay, Adam Murray stepped up to take the kick and hit it low, hard and into the bottom corner.
Whether the delay put Murray off or not, he could not have hit it better, but Chris Weale stretched himself out to
his full length and produced a tremendous save to push the ball round the post, resulting in him being mobbed
by his team-mates as the 900 Yeovil fans behind him went wild.
Straight from that corner there was still time for some more drama. As Dean Bennett rose up to head the ball,
Mr Wright reached for his whistle yet again, meaning that by the time Bennett's header hit the back of the net,
any chance of Kidderminster had of getting an equaliser had been disallowed for a push by a Harriers player.
Not even two minutes of injury time could stop Yeovil claiming their deserved victory and their first three points
for a month. The drama of the final minute, and the emotional scenes that followed will have no doubt brought
back the confidence and togetherness of the Yeovil team and supporters, and hopefully we can move on from there
and get the season back on track.
Badger
MOTM Vote Result:
| Player |
MOTM |
Score |
| Chris Weale |
21 |
588 |
| Gavin Williams |
8 |
388 |
| Adam Lockwood |
5 |
257 |
| Andy Lindegaard |
6 |
171 |
| Lee Johnson |
5 |
122 |
| Abdelhalim El Kholti |
4 |
118 |
|
Overall match rating: 6.5 / 10
Performance: 6.6
Entertainment: 6.4
49 votes received.
Any comments/questions please email [email protected]
|
Nationwide League Division Three : Kidderminster Harriers 0 - 1 Yeovil Town
