Kidderminster Harriers Supporters Team

The Harriers fans team suffered home defeat at the weekend to a well drilled visiting Shrewsbury side at Cookley playing fields. A healthy 18 man squad assembled in high spirits with rumours circulating that Manager 'Morgan' Connolly had been conducting some late night coaching of members of his defensive unit following the fans forum.

A strong looking KHIST side started the game slowly and it soon became evident that our visitors from Shropshire would be a tough nut to crack. Unlike most visiting fans sides the Shrews were well organised and strong throughout their team. After only ten minutes player manager Connolly had made the first change replacing himself after the previous night's Rum had took its toll. As the half wore on both sides created half chances with neither keeper really threatened.

However mid way through the first half Shrewsbury scored the all important first goal. Captain Chris Lacey was caught out of position as the Shrews winger crossed for the oncoming forward to finish near post. Harriers proceeded to force a flurry of corners but the Shrews defence remained solid and at the other end goalkeeper Dave Ackerley made a couple of decent saves for the onlooking camermen.

The score remained 1-0 at half time with the next goal being important with Sean Merryweather at the heart of most good things for the Harriers. With Kiddy constantly rotating their 7 subs to give everyone a fair game its probably no suprise that the game became very scrappy with possession being wasted. Disaster was soon to strike though as Shrews doubled their lead after Sean Merryweather slipped in the area and the visiting sides forward spooned the ball over the stranded Dave Ackerley in goal.

The second goal knocked the stuffing out of Harriers and for the rest of the game struggled to keep posession of the ball and regular changes stopped any real chance of a comeback. Even the introduction of Andrew 'more sandwiches than touches' Coffield and Mike 'Iyesden' Peplow couldnt save the Harriers. The Shrews sealed victory as centre half Mark Young was caught out of position late in the game and finish the game as a contest at 3-0.

Harriers could have no real complaints with the final scoreline and it was certainly no disgrace to lose to one of the strongest fans teams in the country. Although making regular changes had its affect the real difference was our visitors extra quality on the ball. It was as always was a pleasure to play our visitors from Shropshire who really set the standard. The fans team are back in action next week at Oxford where we will be running a coach to our important FA Trophy tie.

Team - Dave Ackerley, Richard Millington, Mark Young, Tom Hudson, Mark Connolly, Ollie Sewell, Nathan Fox, Scott Mason, Simon Clarke, Mike Peplow, Ash Jarvis, Chris Lacey, Ben Grazier, David Pountney, Andrew Coffield, Pete Lewis, Jai Stampe and Sean Merryweather.

Man of the match - Sean Merryweather