Harriers 2
York 0

THE self-belief that has helped propel Harriers into third place in the Blue Square Premier has been passed onto their long-suffering fans, as they serenaded their team to victory on a dream-laden Tuesday night.

Second half goals by Justin Richards and Brian Smikle were enough to see off an industrious but limited York side, as Harriers maintained their excellent home form.

Harriers are now unbeaten in the last 13 BSP games at home and their current run of excellent results has won over fans, who have been waiting for something to spark in recent seasons.

The memories of last season’s inconsistent home form have been replaced by a belief, shared by both the players and supporters, that this team always find a way to win.

Harriers were not at their best and struggled to break down a solid but hardly spectacular York side in the first half.

In the past the home supporters’ impatience would have spilled into frustration aimed at their own team, but this time they watched patiently, confident that Mark Yates’ incisive troops would find a way through.

Harriers were the better side and despite York’s attempts to frustrate them, they had the best of a fitful first half.

After former Harrier Simon Russell tested keeper Adam Bartlett early on with a low shot, the home side took control.

Richards had a gilt-edged chance to settle any nerves when strike partner Matthew Barnes-Homer threaded him through on goal but Harriers’ top scorer shot a fraction wide in the 10th minute.

Winger Martin Brittain once again provided an attacking outlet and his corner in the 16th minute exposed York’s defensive frailties.

The impressive Luke Jones saw a header blocked and Mark Creighton’s follow-up was saved by keeper Michael Ingram.

York offered little up front but debutant Peter Holmes shot off target, as the visitors grew in confidence in the first half.

Richards directed a diving header over an open goal from a tight angle, after alert play by Barnes-Homer, who had beaten Ingram to Andy Ferrell’s header.

York midfielder Simon Rusk shot wide just after the break as Harriers’ struggled to find their attacking rhythm, particularly an out of sorts Russ Penn.

Harriers had another escape when striker Richard Brodie blazed over but the visitors were punished for their wastefulness by Smikle in the 63nd minute.

Penn did well to find Brittain on the right and he delivered a teasing cross to the near post. The unmarked winger ghosted in and stooped to head the ball beyond a helpless Ingram.

The goal, Smikle’s second of the campaign, marked another hard-working display and also prompted Yates to keep him on the pitch, as only minutes before the manager had looked likely to replace him with Darryl Knights.

The goal sparked the 1,300 home fans into life and they urged their team on for the rest of the half.

York battled hard but enjoyed little luck in front of goal, with speedy substitute Onome Sodje shooting wide and before being denied by keeper Adam Bartlett’s finger tips.

Replacement hitman Craig Farrell also saw an effort ruled out for offside.

Harriers, lifted by the fans’ chorus, always looked capable of adding a second and Barnes-Homer missed a good chance when he shot across goal instead of squaring the ball to an unmarked David McDermott late on.

But victory, and the home fans’ delight, was ensured in the 93rd minute when the impressive McDermott broke free down the right and squared the ball to Richards, who finished coolly from close range.

After the game manager Mark Yates warned about getting carried away by the result and their lofty position, but the fans will be walking on cloud nine at least until the next game at Eastbourne Borough on Saturday.

Harriers: Bartlett 6; Creighton 7; Jones 8; Ferrell 6; Baker 7; Lowe 6; Penn 6; Smikle 7; Barnes-Homer 7; Richards 7; Brittain 7 (McDemortt, 80).

York: Ingram; Purkiss; Robinson; McGurk; Parslow; McBreen; Russell (Farrell, 76); Wilkinson; Rusk; Brodie (Sodje, 62); Holmes.

Referee: David Coote. Attendance: 1,481.


SEE PICTURE GALLERY OR OR LISTEN TO PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN SMIKLE.