Kidderminster Harriers v Fleetwood Town.

Match Report

By Sam Heaney

Fleetwood Town overcame a tough opposition and tricky pitch to beat Kidderminster Harriers 2-0 to increase on their already 14 away wins this season.

Second half goals from Andy Mangan and Richard Brodie made sure Town game sailing home with all three points stretching the gap to 8 points over Wrexham.

Lee Fowler and Junior Brown made way for Richard Brodie and Alan Goodall following Tuesday nights 2-1 win against Grimsby.

It was a shaky start for both teams as the pitch played a huge factor on the game with with Scott Davies being troubled by a bobbling back-pass after just 2 minutes.

It took 7 minutes for the first real chance of the game and that fell to Kidderminster
’s Forward, David Guinan. The number nine ran straight through the center before shaping up to shoot from 20 yards but dragged his left footed shot wide.

Kidderminster were creating the majority of chances in the opening 20 minutes and Guinan found himself with his second chance of the game after Demetriou’s free kick from the right created the chance on goal but Harriers could not capatilise and open the scoring.

A tactical substitution from Micky Mellon to strengthen the midfield eventually resulted in Town creating their first chance of the game. Jamie Vardy’s shot was too hot to handle for Breeden who could only parry the ball into the feet of Mangan, unfortunately the follow up was blazed over.

Guinan found himself with a hat trick of chances just before the break when a good move ended with him forcing Davies into a superb reaction saveon the line which brought the first half to an end, goalless.

Kidderminster had been the better team in the first half and carried that on in the second when good work from Marvin Johnson down the left touchline saw him drive his shot across the face of goal with nobody able to follow up. Luke Jones directed his header wide a little later from a well-directed corner.

Town found themselves in the lead on the 53rd minute when Mangan scored his 17th league goal of the season. Substitute,Fowler played a key role in the opening goal before turning and setting up Mangan who struck with his right foot, just inside the near post.

The league-leaders scored again on the hour after Brodie’s goalbound effort inside the area deflected off Lee Vaughan before finding its way into the back of the net for the strikers 9th goal of the season. Cavanagh very-nearly made it 3-0 when his left footed effort curled, but only into the hands of Breeden who was well positioned to take the shot.

Harriers replied almost straight away when Lee Hendrie’s cross found its way into the path of Guinan who could only place his header straight at Davies when it looked easier to score. Hendrie had Davies in all sorts of trouble when his curling free kick went narrowly wide of the post on 72 minutes.

Bradley had the final effort of the game in added time when his dipping shot went marginally over the bar. It was too late for Kidderminster as the referee’s whistle blew for full time soon after. Town recorded a sixth successive win and three in six days watched by a crowd of 2341, which included a hundred or so travelling Cod Army. Meanwhile, Town were cheered on by some 400 supporters back home in Jims’s Sports Bar who watched the game live on Premier Sports TV.