Kidderminster Harriers Supporters Team

Dave Goode scored a hat-trick to secure a victory in the north east of England as part of a Fans Team excursion to Newcastle. Chris Lacey and Mark Young also grabbed a goal each in an epic 5-3 victory for the touring Harriers Fans Squad.

Most of the 13 man squad met in the North East night spot during the Friday afternoon but were soon accompanied by the ‘Barrow 6’ which included Adam Matthews, Mike Peplow, Luke Mansell, Morgan Nock, Andy Lander and Simon Jarasinski, who had all travelled from furthest Cumbria after the watching the Harriers encounter with Barrow on the Previous evening. Once the entire squad were assembled Manager Mark Connolly strictly set out the ground rules for the night’s festivities which included an 11pm curfew and a maximum 4 units of alcoholic intake. Needless to say the Player-Manager led by example and the entire team made it safely to the venue of the next day’s game against the Newcastle United Fans without incident.

The game itself was a fantastic display of Fans Team Football etiquette played in an incredibly friendly manner. The Harriers went 2 nil up within 10 minutes as Dave Goode scored one and setup Mark Young for the second; however the visitors took their foot off the gas and let the home side pull 2 goals back to go in at the break with the scores tied at 2-2. Soon after half time the Harriers got the kick up the backside they needed when they went 3-2 down. However a clever tactical change and slice of luck when the home keeper spilt a cross at the feet of Chris Lacey, who made no mistake from 2 yards, meant that the Harriers were once again in the ascendency. Under heat of the hottest day of the year so far it was the visitors who finished the game stronger and two more goals from the stand out Dave Goode meant that the Harriers came out of the game as the victors.

Our North-East counterparts proved to be fantastic hosts and an incredibly friendly bunch of lads. The meeting will hopefully be the start of a friendship which would see the newly promoted Premier League team visit Kidderminster for a return leg when they visit the likes of Aston Villa and Birmingham City.

Finally, rumours of the curfew being broke by the entire squad including the management were quashed, however an internal investigation is under way after reports of late night over indulgence. A Facebook photo amnesty has also been called for while investigations take place.

Team - Brett Caufield, Ollie Sewell, Adam Matthews, Mike Peplow, Chris Lacey, Dave Goode, Mark Connolly, Mark Young, Luke Mansell, Morgan Nock, Ben Grazier, Andrew Coffield and Simon Jarrasinski.

Scorers - Dave Goode 3. Chris Lacey and Mark Young

Man of the match - Dave Goode