Harriers leave Silkmen in a spin (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Harriers leave Silkmen in a spin

5:07pm Saturday 29th September 2012 in News

Harriers 3, Macclesfield 0

IMPRESSIVE Harriers made it back-to-back wins for the first time this season as they put the slick Silkmen to the sword at Aggborough on Saturday.

Goals for Chey Dunkley, Ryan Rowe and Marvin Johnson saw Steve Burr's side bag their first home victory over the season.

It was Macclesfield who made the early running as the home side weathered the storm.

Wade Fairhurst directed a shot just over the bar, while winger Peter Winn drilled a low effort a fraction wide.

Fairhurst signalled his threat with a sharp turn on the edge of the box but his snap shot was well wide.

Harriers, expertly marshalled at the back by Josh Gowling, were happy to soak up the pressure and try and hit the Silkmen on the break.

Left-back Mickey Demetriou nearly broke the deadlock after Rowe had played a free-kick to him, but his excellent low shot flew a fraction wide of the right post.

Keith Briggs saw his attempted chip fly just over the bar but it was Rowe who looked the most likely to score.

The striker made a well-timed run to race onto Lee Vaughan's pass but his effort was blocked by the legs of keeper Lance Cronin at the near post.

Macclesfield continued to probe but found no way beyond obdurate Harriers and the home side's resilience paid off as they took the lead in the 43rd minute from their first corner of the game.

Callum Gittings sent in a good delivery  and centre back Dunkley timed his run to perfection to thunder a downward header into the back of the net.

Harriers came out guns blazing at the start of the second period but found Cronin in defiant mood.  The shot stopper blocked a deflected free kick by Rowe which seemed destined to fly into the back of the net.

He then made a flying stop to get a hand to Gowling's header.  When Briggs flashed a header wide it looked as though Harriers had wasted their chance to double their lead but Rowe struck in the 51st minute.

The striker linked up well with Demetriou and slotted a left-footed shot into the back of the net.

Rowe was given a standing ovation mid way through the second half when he was replaced by Johnson. The striker was taken off as a precaution after a picking up an ankle injury.

Johnson added to Macclesfield's woes in the 76th minute, lashing in a superb shot after the visitors had fallen asleep at the back.

Harriers: N Vaughan, L Vaughan, Demetriou, Vincent, Rowe (Johnson, 67), Malbon (Shakes, 82), Blissett, Gittings (Watkins, 61), Briggs, Dunkley, Gowling. Unused subs: Lewis, Williams.

Macclesfield: Cronin, Jackson, Mills, Brown, Braham-Barrett, Winn (Holroyd  73), Murtagh, Mendy, Fairhurst, Barnes-Homer, Henry (Morgan-Smith, 59).

Unused subs: Wedgbury, Mackreth, McNamee.

Refere: Peter Bankes (Merseyside).

Attendance: 1654 (216)