Harriers 1
Hayes and Yeading 0

HARRIERS made a winning start to the Blue Square Premier by edging newly promoted Hayes and Yeading at Aggborough on Saturday.

Matthew Barnes-Homer's first half goal was enough to ensure all three points for Mark Yates' side.

However, the hosts were made to work hard by their spirited opponents and survived some scary moments near the end.

Victory was enough to end Harriers' hoodoo against promoted sides on the opening day of the season. In recent years they have slipped up to St Albans and Lewes.

Manager Yates handed league debuts to new signings Liam Dolman and Gavin Caines in defence, otherwise he picked the players who helped Harriers go so close to reaching a place in the play-offs last season.

But the bench saw five new additions, with summer signings Kyle Hadley, John Finnigan, Jasbir Singh, Tom Sharpe and Duane Courtney all waiting to come on if needed.

Their opponents, who won the Blue Square South's play-offs in May, started with Rob Gradwell up front as a lone striker. Visiting manager Garry Haylock also started with new signings Justin Cochrane and goalkeeper Simon Overland.

Keeper Dean Coleman, who made the step up to first choice after waiting in the wings as back-up for two seasons, showed some nerves when he fumbled Danny Allen-Page's cross.

The home side were struggling to settle but Chris McPhee looked their most dangerous player.

The 26-year-old, who turned down a move to Cheltenham in the summer, saw a firmly struck volley bravely blocked by Tom Cadmore.

Coleman gave his confidence a boost in the 14th minute when he dived down to his left to smother Justin Cochrane's effort from the edge of the box.

Harriers failed to threaten and chances at goal became rare in a closeley fought first half.

But Barnes-Homer opened his account for the season in the 35th minute with a cool finish.

McPhee pulled the ball back to Brian Smikle and the winger's low cross from the left was diverted into the hitman's path by David McDermott.

Barnes-Homer, who was Harriers' joint-top scorer last season, took a touch and slotted the ball to the right of sprawling keeper Overland.

The goal breathed confidence into the hosts and Darryl Knights saw two efforts just off target as the hosts pushed for a second goal.

Barnes-Homer looked eager to add to his tally and he curled a spectacular effort wide after cutting in from the left wing in the 42nd minute.

But the visitors responded well at the start of the second half and Caines had to clear away Dale Binns' chip in the 49th minute.

Allen-Page then headed off target as Harriers found themselves under pressure.

The away side decided to go for broke and replaced midfielder Marc Canham with striker Scott Fitzgerald in the 58th minute as the match became a frenetic open affair.

Hayes had a chance when Gradwell pounced on Brian Smikle's loose pass but shot well wide.

With his side losing there way, Yates hauled off Knights and Dolman and replaced them with winger Hadley and the more attack-minded Courtney.

McPhee decided enough was enough when he pounced on the loose ball 20-yards out in the 71st minute but his low piledriver flew wide.

The hosts survived a scare in the 77th minute when Ram Marwa burst into the box and met Dale Binns' low cross but luckily for Harriers the ball looped over the bar.

Barnes-Homer saw his header deflected wide in the 80th minute after a fine run and cross from Smikle.

There was a let-off for Harriers two minutes later when the unmarked substitute Esmond James volleyed over the bar.

Barnes-Homer forced Overland into a decent save when he met Lee Baker's cross but the keeper was equal to the hitman's header.

Substitute Finnigan then almost made the game safe for Harriers late on when he stung Overland's palms with a fierce 30-yard strike.

Hayes made a claim for a penalty when Scott Fitzgerald went down in the box under a challenge from Martin Riley, but the referee waved play on.

McPhee almost grabbed Harriers' second goal in the 94th minute when he raced on Smikle's incisive pass only to see his effort deflected wide Despite not being at their best, the Aggborough outfit could be pleased with getting the season up and running with a win.

Harriers: (4-3-1-2): Coleman; Baker; Caines; Riley; Dolman (Coutrtney, 68); Bennett (John Finnigan, 88); McPhee; Smikle; McDermott; Knights (Hadley, 68); Barnes-Homer.

Unused substitutes: Singh; Sharpe.

Hayes and Yeading (4-5-1):Overland; Allen-Page; Green; Cadmore; Ruby (James, 80); Cochrane; Canham (Fitzgerald, 58); Gradwell; Marwa; Bins; Mulley.

Unused substitutes: El-Abd; Little; Preddie.

Referee: Colin Harwood (Manchester). Attendance: 1,471 (95)