ASHLEY Hemmings banished his woes in front of goal with a brace in a 3-0 away win for Harriers at Needham Market.
The popular Aggborough marksman, who recently made his 200th appearance for the club, had been in the midst of a mini goal drought having not found the back of the net since August.
He was left to rue missed chances that cost Harriers dear in last weekend’s FA Cup defeat to Guiseley – including one from the penalty spot – but bounced back in style in Suffolk to help Phil Brown’s men on their way to a deserved success.
He netted a goal in each half to take his own personal tally for the term to five, a first Harriers goal for David Davis adding to the score line as three points made their way back to Worcestershire.
Brown had been forced into two changes going into the clash. Alex Penny was missing once again through injury as a back problem ruled him out, while Jack Lambert dropped to the bench with Reece Devine and Kam Kandola stepping into the eleven.
It was actually the home side who had the first serious chance of the day early in the first half when the lively Reggie Lambe was presented with the ball in the six-yard box, but the Bermudan international could only drive his effort over the bar.
It was Harriers who were ahead on 33 minutes. Maz Kouhyar and Joe Foulkes combined well, the latter then dropping an exquisite delivery into the area and on to the head of Hemmings who made no mistake from close range.
Needham then had a half-chance blocked on the Harriers line before the visitors made it 2-0 with just two minutes to play until the interval; Devine chased a lost caused superbly to the by-line when everyone else had given it up, Davis the beneficiary as he swept the pull-back into the net. It might even have been 3-0 before the whistle blew, but Caleb Richards saw his fizzed, low effort pull wide of the far post.
Early in the second half, Marcus Garnham saved from Kouhyar as Harriers advanced and, nine minutes following the restart the game was all but over with the team’s third; a deep ball nodded down by Amari Morgan-Smiith, Garnham left exposed as Hemmings was left with the routine task of slotting the ball into the net.
Further chances came for Harriers to extend their lead after the hour, Hemmings lifting one effort over the bar and Morgan-Smith striking the post at close range, before the former again went close, narrowly missing out on proper contact with a low Foulkes cross in the final 15 minutes.
Christian Dibble had chiefly been a spectator up at the other end but, ,as his defenders defended superbly to keep the danger at bay, he had to do his bit to keep a clean sheet in added time when he beat aside a shot from substitute Adam Mills.
Following the win, Harriers host Marine at Aggborough on Tuesday night before travelling to Peterborough Sports next Saturday.
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