Kidderminster Harriers Supporters Team

A windy day with basking sunshine at Cookley Playing Fields between these two fans teams adversaries greeted my first match report in over a decade. And it did not get off to a very good start as, still trying to work out the stream of new faces since my last appearance, I missed the opening goal scored by Sean Merryweather inside the first 10 minutes. But, according to Griffo, "someone passed it to him, he headed it down and smacked it past the keeper". It was a good goal apparently.

Shrewsbury then threatened with a couple of half chances, before a header from an inswinging corner somehow managed to squirm past both Pete Lewis and Richard Millington on the line for 1-1. Kiddy then had a half-chance to regain the lead when an opposing defender flicked on Morgan Nock's crossfield pass for Lawrence Freyne to chase and lob it into the six-yard area, but Shrewsbury cleared the danger before Morgan Nock could finish into an empty net. Shortly after, Shrewsbury took the lead when their striker hit a sublime volley from the edge of the area that beat Ackers at his near post, with Harriers unable to clear the danger.

Early in the second half, both teams had chances to add to their tally. Birdy had a shot blocked by a last-ditch challenge from a defender from Greavsie's through-ball, and Shrews criminally missed a gilt-edged chance when, one-on-one with keeper Brett Caulfield, the striker agonisingly miscued his shot wide.
If that was a let off, then Shrews were certainly unlucky when seconds later, a 25-yard thunderbolt certain to be destined for the top corner was somehow tipped over the bar by the massive presence of keeper Brett. Sadly, no You Tube footage is available of the save in all its glory.

Pete Lewis then rolled back the years with one of the goals of the season. Taking a touch to control the ball, Lewis then hit a superlative 35-40 yard strike which screamed into the top corner of the net. A truly breathtaking goal, fittingly scored by a fans team stalwart who has given us so many great moments down the years and can be considered the Paul Scholes of the fans team, only that he isn't ginger and can tackle better.

Both teams again had chances to take the lead. Ian Danby made an important block to prevent Shrews scoring an almost certain goal, while at the other end, an unmarked Andy Morgan failed to take advantage of the ball kindly falling to him from a corner, by pulling his shot inches wide. Brett Caulfield then had to be alert to stop Shrews scoring, firstly by tipping the ball over the bar to stop Shrewsbury scoring straight from a corner, then immediately from the following corner, making a tidy double-save to keep Harriers in the game.

However he was powerless to prevent Shrews taking the lead for the second time in the game not long after, when after linesman Harty kept the flag down, Shrewsbury's striker found himself one-on-one with Brett, coolly rounded him and casually rolled the ball into an empty net. And they had the chance to almost certainly kill the game off when good work from their winger exposed Harriers back line again, but the Shrews' striker inexplicably missed an open goal from his cross from just two yards out. A goal-of-the-season and a miss-of-the-season contender in the same game.

And that missed chance was to cost the Shrews dear, when Birdy whipped in an outswinging free-kick, and another fans team veteran Ian Danby outjumped everyone to head the ball into the bottom corner with virtually the last kick of the game (or should that be header). Apologies if this match report isn't up to standard. This is because I had to combine my reporting duties with ball boy duties, as Griffo was often too lazy to go and fetch the ball, despite being blessed with greater athletic ability and a better physique than me.

Man of the match - Andy Morgan

Goalscorers - Sean Merryweather, Pete Lewis and Ian Danby (well sort of)

Harriers team: Dave Ackerley (6), Simon Clarke (7), Andy Morgan (8), Ian Danby (8), Richard Millington (6), Pete Lewis (7), Mitchell Pearcen (8), Sean Merryweather (8), Adam Matthews (6), Dave Greaves (6), Jon Taylor (6), Rob Hart (6), Lawrence Freyne (6), Morgan Nock (7), Mike Cooper (6), Steve Bird (7), Brett Caulfield (7) and
Craig Martin (6).

Match report courtesy of Sam Flory