Kidderminster Harriers Supporters Team

Kidderminster Harriers Fans' Team squeezed through 2-1 against a determined Bath City Supporters XI at a blustery Cookley Playing Fields on Saturday morning.

Harriers, fresh from two victories last weekend over Redditch United and Hayes & Yeading United respectively, were able to call on a pool of 14 players with the visitors from Somerset fielding a similar size squad. The most surprising name in the line-up was Dave Connolly, back from a long absence following a knee problem. His brother though, manager Mark, decided that age was a factor and the 'Silver Fox' started on the bench! Steve Bird also made a guest appearance after finally finding his way from Birmingham to Kidderminster, otherwise it was a fairly regularly Harriers line-up and skipper Mike Peplow led out the troops.

The constant swirling wind made it hard work for both teams but it was Harriers who made the brighter start, however the long balls to the powerhouse forward line of Marc Vaughan and John Wenham from the midfield seemed to only play into Bath's hands and clearing their lines became easier. At the other end, custodian Dave Ackerley was equal to anything that the visitors had to throw at them as they came into the game further and Peplow rallied his back line well, Ian Danby using all his experience

He came into his own though just before the half-hour mark when a foul on the edge of the box from Harriers' talisman Mark Young resulted in a penalty - but the Bath taker struck a hard sidefooted shot to Ackers' left and he saved comfortably.

The rarest of things then happened. A fans' football match was goalless at half-time! But it wasn't long after that Harriers broke the deadlock, Vaughan skipping through the Romans' defence to slot home from close range. It came as a relief to all on the home side as the hard-working Bath defence continued to snuff out the midfield threat of Pete Lewis, Bird and Young but they also had their chances at the other end and after several warnings to the home side, they eventually levelled the scores with the striker helping the ball over an onrushing Ackerley.

Harriers lost Andrew Coffield midway through the second half due to an re-occuring injury problem. But then came the siege. The hosts created chance after chance and it was only a matter of time until Harriers netted. In truth, the winning goal was soft, a cross from the right from Wenham and the ball was prodded home by Vaughan, despite the claims for the goal from Young! The dubious goals committee have been contacted, but confirmed that Vaughan has the rights.

So a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Harriers, special mentions to Tom Hudson who was instrumental at right-back both in attack and defence and Ollie Sewell, who gave the victory charge extra impetus when he was re-introduced from the bench. KHIST have now suffered just one defeat in the last thirteen games.

Man of the Match - Tom Hudson

Scorers - Marc Vaughan 2

Team and Ratings

Dave Ackerley (6), Tom Hudson (7), Mark Connolly (6), Ian Danby (6), Mike Peplow (6), Ollie Sewell (7), Steve Bird (7), Mark Young (6), John Wenham (6), Adam Matthews (6), Marc Vaughan (7), Marc Stones (6), Andrew Coffield (6), Dave Connolly (6) and Pete Lewis (6)