Post by rjdgull on Mar 6, 2016 10:13:04 GMT
Never was the old adage that it is a game of two halves truer for this match! We came out of the blocks running and Kidderminster were all at sixes and sevens and for the first ten minutes barely got out of their own half which was the family stand end after they won the toss. Our first good chance resulted in a goal. Their defender headed the ball out for a corner when he should have done better but their defence for the first 45 minutes did a good impression of the keystones cops. From the corner the ball was headed out but only towards the edge of the area towards Richards and Smith with the latter performing an overhead kick that beat the sprawling keeper, hit the underside of the bar and trickled in off the back of the keeper.
Kidderminster responded by getting out of their own half and having a shot on goal which was a regulation save by Lavercombe at the near post. However, we continued to dominate and when an attack broke down the ball was recycled generally coming back to Racchi to distribute but a role where MacDonald stepped in as necessary. The Kidderminster defence, was not good, when their keeper took a goal kick it was likely to go straight out near the Torquay bench or when played out short, things very quickly became dicey under pressure from the Torquay forwards.
We had two very good chances to extend our lead before the actual goal. The first was from a Racchi free-kick near the pop that Ajala got his head to at the near post and the ball was powered just wide of the post, a few inches to the left and it was in. The second chance fell to Harrad after some more keystone cops defending and from near the penalty spot Harrad marginally volleyed wide past their keeper when he should have done better.
The second goal came from some good build up play during which I commented on the pop side exodus to Boots and Laces as I thought that we could score again and so we did! The ball finally came to Rees at the corner of the area on Bristow's bench side and his deep cross to the far post was nodded in by Blisset to gain total control of the match. It just seemed a question of by how many we would win by.....
The Kidderminster players came out early for the second half after no doubt having the proverbial rocket placed up their backsides and signalled their intent by replacing a holding midfielder with another striker. Suddenly they were the hungry side and I made the comment that if we didn't match their intensity that they would get a goal back! This they did from a well directed free-kick near the pop after their player was obstructed. The ball was played in between our back line and the keeper with their striker getting in front of MacDonald to loop the ball wickedly over Lavercombe to dip just below the bar. It was by no means in the corner and Lavercombe was probably just half a pace too far forward as his fingers probably just brushed the ball as it went in. A good goal but perhaps one that should have been prevented more often than not....
So, the match was transformed from a canter into a battle. We did try to counter and did get the ball into the back of the net but only after the whistle had gone for off side. However, from one attack they countered along the pop side wing and a pass inside to their striker saw him take the ball to the edge of the area and as he ran along this towards Bristow Bench a strong left footed shot back to the inside of the right hand post was easily slotted past Lavercombe. He had a good match but I think it was Racchi who was tracking the striker!
Suddenly we were holding on for grim life with Kidderminster looking the more likely to score. Lavercombe managed to Palm a header just wide from a dodgy awarded free kick and Berry headed a shot in front of the left hand post just wide. The ref missed a handball from their striker in our area which led to a corner that thankfully came to nothing.
Wright came on for Ajala with just over 20 minutes to go and provided a much needed attacking outlet. I think his play led to the corner to retake the lead. The first Butler corner was headed by their defender for an immediate retake. The second corner was headed goalward and kept out but from the resulting scramble was forced over the line, apparently from the hand of Smith. The referee was happy with the goal, despite numerous protests from the Kidderminster players and the ire of their adjoining fans and was probably the second hand ball in the opposing areas that he missed in a few minutes - yin and yan.
So 10 minutes of normal time to play out in during which the home support and players became increasingly edgy. Five minutes of injury time were found by the fourth official from somewhere and we tried to keep the ball in the corners but Chaney was not particularly well suited for this role. Thankfully the ref only played an extra 4 minutes and we held on for a tense win which should have been anything but.....
So the great escape is still on, 2 of our goals had an element of luck to them but were cancelled out by two defensive errors - we deserved the win - just!!!!
Kidderminster responded by getting out of their own half and having a shot on goal which was a regulation save by Lavercombe at the near post. However, we continued to dominate and when an attack broke down the ball was recycled generally coming back to Racchi to distribute but a role where MacDonald stepped in as necessary. The Kidderminster defence, was not good, when their keeper took a goal kick it was likely to go straight out near the Torquay bench or when played out short, things very quickly became dicey under pressure from the Torquay forwards.
We had two very good chances to extend our lead before the actual goal. The first was from a Racchi free-kick near the pop that Ajala got his head to at the near post and the ball was powered just wide of the post, a few inches to the left and it was in. The second chance fell to Harrad after some more keystone cops defending and from near the penalty spot Harrad marginally volleyed wide past their keeper when he should have done better.
The second goal came from some good build up play during which I commented on the pop side exodus to Boots and Laces as I thought that we could score again and so we did! The ball finally came to Rees at the corner of the area on Bristow's bench side and his deep cross to the far post was nodded in by Blisset to gain total control of the match. It just seemed a question of by how many we would win by.....
The Kidderminster players came out early for the second half after no doubt having the proverbial rocket placed up their backsides and signalled their intent by replacing a holding midfielder with another striker. Suddenly they were the hungry side and I made the comment that if we didn't match their intensity that they would get a goal back! This they did from a well directed free-kick near the pop after their player was obstructed. The ball was played in between our back line and the keeper with their striker getting in front of MacDonald to loop the ball wickedly over Lavercombe to dip just below the bar. It was by no means in the corner and Lavercombe was probably just half a pace too far forward as his fingers probably just brushed the ball as it went in. A good goal but perhaps one that should have been prevented more often than not....
So, the match was transformed from a canter into a battle. We did try to counter and did get the ball into the back of the net but only after the whistle had gone for off side. However, from one attack they countered along the pop side wing and a pass inside to their striker saw him take the ball to the edge of the area and as he ran along this towards Bristow Bench a strong left footed shot back to the inside of the right hand post was easily slotted past Lavercombe. He had a good match but I think it was Racchi who was tracking the striker!
Suddenly we were holding on for grim life with Kidderminster looking the more likely to score. Lavercombe managed to Palm a header just wide from a dodgy awarded free kick and Berry headed a shot in front of the left hand post just wide. The ref missed a handball from their striker in our area which led to a corner that thankfully came to nothing.
Wright came on for Ajala with just over 20 minutes to go and provided a much needed attacking outlet. I think his play led to the corner to retake the lead. The first Butler corner was headed by their defender for an immediate retake. The second corner was headed goalward and kept out but from the resulting scramble was forced over the line, apparently from the hand of Smith. The referee was happy with the goal, despite numerous protests from the Kidderminster players and the ire of their adjoining fans and was probably the second hand ball in the opposing areas that he missed in a few minutes - yin and yan.
So 10 minutes of normal time to play out in during which the home support and players became increasingly edgy. Five minutes of injury time were found by the fourth official from somewhere and we tried to keep the ball in the corners but Chaney was not particularly well suited for this role. Thankfully the ref only played an extra 4 minutes and we held on for a tense win which should have been anything but.....
So the great escape is still on, 2 of our goals had an element of luck to them but were cancelled out by two defensive errors - we deserved the win - just!!!!