Harriers draw Vale over pre-season

In their final friendly of a long and sometimes frustrating summer, the small crowd of fans that braved the rain must have been pleased to see the squad for the 2009-10 season in the Blue Square Premier finally coming together.

Even better, Harriers continued the enterprising brand of football which despite all the comings and goings at Aggborough this summer, has left many supporters feeling upbeat about the new campaign.

After a jittery start a strong Harriers line-up, which saw Chris McPhee play as an emergency striker because of an injury to hitman Matthew Barnes-Homer, manager Mark Yates’ team came from behind and then outplayed a strong Port Vale team.

After the match, Harriers’ manager felt that with the likes of Kyle Hadley, Darryl Knights and Brian Smikle in the side, his team will produce a brand of football that is easy on the eye this season.

“It got a bit disjointed in the second half with the substitutions but on the whole it was a good work out,” commented Yates.

“For the first five minutes I thought we might be given the run around but credit to the lads they turned it around and played some really good stuff.

“We’ve got the players who can get the ball down and play.

“Matthew Barnes-Homer tweaked his knee and hasn’t trained for a couple of days but he wanted to be involved at the end.

“Chris McPhee was on his own up front, while Brian Smikle, Darryl Knights and Kyle Hadley were supporting him and I thought we got behind them plenty of times and should have scored a lot of goals. The pleasing thing is we are getting there.”

Yates was able to play something close to his strongest side, with creative fulcrum Knights playing behind McPhee.

Dean Coleman started in goal, while Gavin Caines played alongside Martin Riley in central defence.

On the bench were trialists Liam Dolman, keeper Jasbir Singh and hitman Jonathan Nanizayamo.

The only other major absence, apart from Barnes-Homer, was new signing John Finnigan, who made a debut in the second half as he tried to get his match fitness.

First off, it looked as though the Potteries outfit might have it all their own way, particularly when Doug Loft opened the scoring in the seventh minute after Coleman parried Jamie Guy’s fierce shot into his path.

But once the hosts settled, they were the better side and looked capable of opening up Vale at will.

McPhee, who once again showed his versatility with a fine performance up front, had seen a delicate chip crash off the bar but levelled the score in the 18th minute.

Harriers had pegged back the visitors and from a second successive corner, he met Hadley’s cross with a well-taken low volley which flew beyond on trial shot-stopper Stuart Tomlinson and into the back of the net.

Harriers had the best of the game and their zippy, precise passing led to their second goal in the 35th minute.

Knights and David McDemott, combined well, before Brian Smikle slipped the ball to the dangerous Hadley on the right of the box.

The wideman skipped past a lunging Robert Taylor and sent in a cross, which midfielder Dean Bennett thumped into the back of the net with a diving header at the far post.

Harriers continued to boss the game and McPhee and Hadley had the hosts’ best chances in the second half.

However, question marks over Harriers’ defending were raised when Marc Richards pounced on a poor clearance by Dean Bennett and slotted a low shot into an empty net.

The draw ensured Harriers ended pre-season unbeaten with five wins and three draws, scoring 30 goals and conceding just eight.

Harriers: Coleman; Courtney (Dolman 57) ; Baker; Caines; Riley; McPhee (Nanizayamo, 87); Bennett; Knights; McDermott (Barnes-Homer, 71); Smikle; Hadley (Finnigan, 71). Unused substitutes: Singh (GK).

Port Vale: Tomlinson; Griffiths (Martin, 46); McCombe; Loft; Richards (Glover, 65); Yates (Stockley, 46); Dodds (K Taylor, 46); Colins; Owen; Guy (Horsefield, 65); R Taylor. Unused substitutes: Prosser. Referee: M Amphlett (West Midlands). Attendance: 536 (70)