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Kidderminster
Harriers (POSF A) | Scunthorpe
United (POF A) |
Sunday
18 May Scunthorpe
United 2 Chester 1
(after extra time)
National League North Play-Off
Final
Attendance: 9,086 (1,608 Chester) Half Time: 1-0, Full
Time 1-1
Booked: Burke, K.Roberts, Peers, Willoughby, Mooney, Woodthorpe.
Scunthorpe United: Fitzsimons, Kelly,
Kouogun, Evans, Clunan, Beestin (Boyce 106), Whitehall
(Fadera 96), Rowley (Brogan 111), Ubaezuonu (Fishburn
120+1), Starbuck, Denton (Scales 84). Subs not used: Campbell,
Law.
Chester: Storer, K.Roberts (Willoughby
106), Burke, Leak, Woodthorpe, Bainbridge, Murray (O’Kane
87), Weeks, Woods, Peers, Mottley-Henry (Mooney 90+3)
Subs not used: Brown, Hunter, Rawlinson, Burgess, Lambert.
Referee: Isaac Searle.
Chester
came agonisingly close to upsetting the odds at the Attis
Arena but ultimately fell to a 2-1 defeat after extra-time.
City, playing in their all black third kit against the
sky blue and claret of Scunthorpe, made a bright start.
Woothorpe’s run ended with him firing narrowly wide
of the upright. The Iron then responded as Denton shot
wide of Storer’s goal. They forced Chester back
on the defensive fighting hard to win possession in the
middle and fire passes out to either wing – especially
the right where Ubaezuonu posed a powerful threat.
At the other end, Bainbridge headed over the bar from
Weeks’ right wing corner. Soon after, Chester went
behind. A throw from the right was allowed to bounce across
the edge of the penalty area, Clunan’s shot hit
the post and rebounded across goal; City defenders were
unable to respond before Whitehall struck in the rebound.
City held out to the break without further setback but
will have felt bullied off the ball and unable to assert
their passing skills as they reflected on the first half.
The hosts came forward looking for a decisive second goal
as the second period began but, after weathering an early
flurry of attacks, Chester began to exert some control
on play and pushed the Iron back. The Chester fans, vocal
throughout, raised their encouragement another notch.
When, on the hour mark, Woodthorpes’s lofted ball
into the box was handled by Evans, the referee pointed
to the spot for a penalty. After a brief delay Connor
Woods – coolness personified -sent Fitzimmons the
wrong way to score the Chester’s equaliser. The
visitors then proceeded to dominate and apply pressure
on the Iron’s goal without creating a clear cut
opportunity.
As the game neared full-time both sides looked to find
a winner. Whitehall crashed a direct free kick against
the post and Ubaezuonu struck the rebound over the bar.
Peers robbed Kouogan down the left and fired narrowly
over from an acute angle – when a pass to Weeks
might have been the better option. The tireless Murray
was caught late by Denton and while the referee might
have pondered a second yellow card for the Iron man, he
was deftly substituted.
Blues missed Murray’s creativity when he could not
continue but Mooney made an immediate impact when he came
on, overturning possession to mount a last attack –
his cross, however, was wayward.
Both sides summoned further resolve for extra time. It
was Scunthorpe who got their noses in front when a cross
was flicked on to Ubaezuonu in space. His initial shot
was superbly blocked by Roberts but the rebound fell kindly
for him and he scored with his second attempt. This was
on the stroke of half time in extra-time. The second half
became something of a non-event punctuated by fouls, delays
for injury and yellow cards as the referee struggled to
exert his authority.
The play was further delayed as home fans lined the pitch
threatening to invade. Eventually they were cajoled back
over the fence but when the final whistle finally sounded
they invaded anyway to indulge in the customary tribal
rituals of goading the Chester fans as well as congratulate
their own players. A hefty cordon of police and stewards
successfully kept the peace and as order emerged from
the chaos, City’s players and Cal McIntyre were
able to approach and commiserate with the travelling fans.
Though some of the players were clearly distraught –
they were entitle to hold their heads high for their superb
efforts. Despite this result the season should be celebrated
as a successful and memorable campaign with the potential
to be built on further next time.
Colin Mansley


Pictures
© Rick Matthews
Sunday
4 May Kidderminster
Harriers 1 Chester 2
National League North Play-Off
Semi-Final
Attendance: 4,647 (1,300 Chester) Half Time: 1-1
Booked: K.Roberts, Storer.
Kidderminster Harriers: Dibble, Richards,
Devine (Davis 55), McNally, Worrall (Obadeyi 86), Morgan-Smith,
Hemmings, Brown, Kouhyar (Reynolds 81), Morrison, Kandola
(Beresford 90+4). Subs not used: Downing, Bishop, Hall.
Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Willoughby
(Mooney 70), Mottley-Henry (O’Kane 86), Woodthorpe,
Leak, Woods, Bainbridge, Murray, K.Roberts. Subs not used:
Brown, Hunter, Rawlinson, Lambert, Burgess.
Referee: Jonathan Maskrey.
City
extended their season until the Promotion Final with this
magnificent victory at Aggborough.
Blues came in to the tie as underdogs but not lacking
in confidence after the intense tussle with Buxton on
Wednesday. Nor were they lacking in support as their fans
travelled in droves to the venue – the complete
allocation of 1300 tickets were sold online within half
an hour. Included in the number were a fair few Exiles.
Their usual pre-match gathering venue at the convivial
King & Castle, SVR Station Buffet was restricted to
home fans only for the day – but they gathered not
too far away at an equally hospitable hostelry. Fuelled
by sweet and straw-coloured Black Country ales, Scotch
eggs and crusty cobs they joined the throng on the terraces
and in the stands urging the teams on for this knock-out
tie.
Harriers forced Chester back to defend their box, firing
the ball to either wing where their lively and inventive
forwards threatened to get behind. They won a couple of
corners and, on twenty minutes, took the lead when Kyle
Morrison broke from the pack to volley the ball in from
short range at the far post.
City responded well to the setback and began to exert
a bit more control in the middle of the park. Connor Woods
played a one-two with Murray on the edge of the box and
fired in a shot to the far post. Dibble parried at full
stretch but Dylan Mottley-Henry was on hand to strike
for the Blues’ equaliser.
As the half-time break drew near, Harriers fashioned a
chance down the left – the ball was pulled back
for Kouhyar, in space on the edge of the box. He seemed
certain to score but fired narrowly wide. Willoughby retaliated
with a run and shot which flew just wide of the post at
the other end. After the interval it was Chester’s
turn to come forward. Murray unleashed a screamer from
distance which Dibble tipped over the bar. City began
to dominate for a spell with Bainbridge, Weeks and Murray
all exerting a vice-like grip on midfield. Murray was
felled from behind in the penalty area by Kandola but
Willoughby’s spot kick – hit firmly –
was nevertheless saved by Dibble.
The reprieve gave Harriers a new lease of energy and buoyed
by a relieved home crowd they took the game to Chester
again. But the Blues gradually weathered this storm and
came forward again. Connor Woods turned to gee up the
Cestrian followers as City scented victory. Weeks nipped
in on the edge of the box and fired a first time shot
into the corner to send City into Blue Heaven.
The finishing line receded further when ten added minutes
were announced – nerves of steel required. Yet,
if anything, Chester came closest to scoring again. When
the excellent Mooney was set clear by Woods, he saw his
shot parried by Dibble but it proved to be the last action
of the game and a place in the final was secured.
Blues fans – who had kept the noise up from start
to finish – still found voice to sing the praises
of their players and the manager Cal McIntyre. The bond
between them – though frayed in November after a
heavy defeat at Curzon Ashton – restored and strengthened.
“Belief never dies” said McIntyre in his notes
before Wednesday. Whatever happens in the final against
Scunthorpe in a fortnight he has instilled fresh heart
and pride in the club from top to bottom.
Colin Mansley

Pictures
© Rick Matthews
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