Wing wizards weave their magic

Widemen Kyle Hadley and Brian Smikle earned their wings for Mark Yates’ troops with a superlative display that left sluggish Altrincham chasing shadows for much of the game.

The duo’s dashing wing play lit up a match packed with more drama than an Eastenders Christmas special.

Harriers defender Martin Riley was justifiably unhappy after a harsh sending off in the 16th minute, while visiting manager Graham Heathcote blew his top with referee Michael Naylor at half-time, after he dismissed Shaun Densmore 20 minutes later.

But the sendings off could not hide the fact that Harriers have hit the goal trail big-time after enduring a mini-goal drought at the start of the season.

Since changing to the 4-3-3 formation at Grays last week, Harriers have bagged six in two games, compared to just one in four previously.

With lone hitman Matthew Barnes-Homer supported by wideboys Hadley and Smikle, Harriers look a potent outfit.

Smikle said: “I seem to be able to read the game, coming from the left. The ball seems to drop to me and I take my chances.

“I was glad to get two goals but the most important was was to beat Altrincham and got three points.

“We didn’t even work on this formation at all, the gaffer just brought Kyle [Hadley] in at Grays in a free role but we have to do our defensive duties.

“But it has worked well as an attacking formation and worked great against Grays and Altrincham.”

The wing wizardry ensured an early breakthrough in the 12th minute, when Hadley raced onto Dean Bennett’s astute pass down the right and delivered a low cross that his fellow wideman finished from close range.

Bennett’s quick thinking led to Harriers’ second goal in the 23rd minute, when his long ball forward caught Altrincham’s defence flat-footed and the pacey Barnes-Homer raced through and lofted it over keeper Stuart Coburn.

Victory was wrapped up 38 seconds after the half-time break had ended, with the widemen combining to great effect again.

Hadley swung in a centre from the right and a totally unmarked Smikle, Harriers’ very own smiling assasin, beat Coburn from close range.

After that the clash never really matched an incendiary first half, that saw tempers flare inbetween a pair of controversial red cards.

Referee Naylor will want to purge this performance from his memory after watching the highlights of his horrorshow performance.

Heathcote had been moaning about the referee from the kick-off but went quiet when Riley was shown a red card for a professional foul, even though the Harriers defender was totally innocent.

Altrincham striker Dale Johnson had broke free to latch onto Danny Hefferan’s long ball, but had already knocked the it to keeper Dean Coleman when Riley spun and accidentally collided with the hitman.

It looked innocuous but Naylor didn’t hesitate to send him off, much to the shock of the home crowd and players.

The bad feeling reached boiling point when Densmore ploughed into Smikle from behind in the 36th minute and was sent off.

Midfielder Tom Kearney was also lucky to stay on the field and escape with a yellow card in the 45th minute, when he tried to scythe with two feet into Hadley.

Luckily, the Harriers man was alert and nimble enough to evade the challenge and serious injury.

Altrincham’s irascible manager had to be pulled back by his assistant as the referee, who was flanked by stewards, walked past him at half-time.

But he could have no complaints in the second half as Harriers came close to adding more goals, with Smikle denied by Coburn and McPhee, who produced a fine display in central defence, midfield and up front, hit the bar late on from 20-yards out.

In contrast, Riley was ‘fuming’ with his dismissal and was at a loss to explain it.

He said: “I remember following the ball over my head. My eyes have never came off the ball and he's not even got control of it and we’ve just tangled.

“I’ve not even made a challenge, so I don’t see how I can be penalised.

“I don’t even think Shaun Densmore’s sending off was a red card, it looked a good solid challenge.

“Maybe it was bit aggressive but part of me thinks the referee was trying to make up for his error with me.”

Harriers: Coleman 6; Courtney 7; Caines 7; Riley 7; Baker 7; McPhee 7; Bennett 7; Finnigan 7 (Finnigan, 71); Smikle 8; Barnes-Homer (Sharpe, 34) 7; Hadley 7 (Knights, 77). Unused substitutes: Singh; Dolman.

Altrincham: Coburn; Smith; Doughty; Kearney (Williams, 52); Young; Densmore; Denham; Johnson; Danlyk; Senior (Clee, 56); Heffernan (Little, 46). Unused substitutes: Lawton; Saunders. Referee: Michael Naylor. Attendance: 1,415 (114)

GALLERY: PICTURES FROM ALTRINCHAM GAME