Kidderminster Harriers Supporters Team

The KHIST fans team fell to their first defeat in nine games on Saturday to an impressive Stoke City side at Cookley. Despite a few absentees including manager Mark Connolly the home side still boasted a squad of 20 players in the first ever meeting between the two sides.

On a sticky pitch it was the Potters who started the strongest forcing Harriers back and were grateful to goalkeeper Dave Ackerley for some good handling under pressure. It was only a matter of time though before the visitors took a deserved lead and it was the Harriers left back Mark Young who sliced the ball into his own net under pressure.

Despite a few positional changes it was Stoke's direct play that continued to be more effective and the second goal soon came mid way through the second half. Harriers struggled to stay in the game with the ball being given away time after time and KHIST were grateful to goalkeeper Ackerley for a number of saves in a performance lacking in spirit.

At half time and with nine changes KHIST started well and found themselves back in the game after Ryan Cooper was fouled in the box. On his first appearance this season Richard Hall despatched the penalty in style to give Harriers hope. Stoke continued to look dangerous on the break though with KHIST not really troubling the visitors.

With just five minutes to go Stoke scored the decisive and best goal of the game as the Ramblers forward finished from the edge of the area in style. With time running out Dave Greaves grabbed his tenth of the season despite appearing offside but it was all too little too late.

So a very dissapointing performance, especially in the first half, against an organised and impressive Stoke City side who deserved their win. Richard Hall became the 50th different player used just this season in another eventful season.

Man of the Match Dave Ackerley

Scorers - Richard Hall and Dave Greaves

Team and Ratings

Dave Ackerley (7), Ian Danby (6), Mark Young (4), Chris Lacey (6), John Wenham (6), Marc Vaughan (6),
Andy Morgan (6), Ben Grazier (6), Nathan Fox (6), Andrew Gray (5), Richard Millington (6), Mitch Pearce (6),
Ryan Cooper (5), Richard Hall (6), Andy Powell (6), Craig Martin (5), Jon Taylor (6), Dave Greaves (6),
Marc Stones (6) and Pete Lewis (5)