Three second half goals from Andy 'Boo' Gray, Andy Powell and Dave Goode completed a narrow but deserved victory for the Harriers fans against their Surrey counterparts.
The day started with 12 Fans team players departing Aggborough Stadium before dawn to make the journey down to the exclusive part of South London. Soon after arriving a further three players joined the squad after making their way up from the south-coast night spot of Brighton. Once all 15 squad members were assembled and suitably warmed up by fitness coach Dave Williams the game got under way against the back drop of the Metropolitan Police's fine sporting facilities.
Two of the 'Brighton Boys', Ollie Sewell and Dave Goode shook off hangovers and the 4am pre-match fry-up to make the starting line up in a strong looking 4-4-2 position. The game started brightly for the away side who forced 2 good saves from the home keeper, but after just ten minutes Kiddy's striker Dave Greaves was forced off through injury which meant Andy Powell was thrown on as a make shift centre forward to partner the lively Andy Gray. It was the home side however that took the lead after a poor clearance from the Harriers' keeper was lashed home from 35 yards in to an empty net. The rest of the half seemed to pass the visitors by and they went in at half time with the score line 1-0.
The Second half was a different affair all together though and the away side found themselves level after a dubious penalty decision was given when Andy Gray was tackled from behind in the area, the defender appeared to have won the ball but the referee applied the letter of the law and pointed to the spot. Boo himself dusted himself down and stepped up to despatch the penalty to bring the honours even. For the next 20 minutes it was one way traffic and the Harriers Fans were unlucky not to go 2-1 up when the third member of the 'Brighton Boys', Tim 'Egg Fried' Price latched on to good cross to lash a volley narrowly over the bar. The pressure though did pay off when make-shift forward Andy Powell was put through on goal and the 17 year old finished with the class of a seasoned striker with a left foot strike from 12 yards. The home side responded well and started to apply some pressure but the back four stood firm and Dave Ackers in the away goal refuted any efforts the Surrey outfit offered.
With the clock ticking away, Dave Goode hit the post with a long range effort but made up for it in the 90th minute with a left footed effort from close range to put the game to bed to make it 3-1. The Away side did however give Harriers a few nervous last seconds when some complacent defending gave Hampton a consolation goal deep in to injury time.
A good performance all round, then. It was hard to pick a Man-of-the-Match with Andy Gray not letting the home defence rest, Mark Young, Ollie Sewell and Chris Lacey the pick of the defenders, but Dave Goode just edged it with a commanding midfield performance to go with one assist and one goal.
Once again the welcome and hospitality was first class from the hosts and hopefully the two teams will do battle again in the not too distant future.
Team - Mark Connolly, Dave Ackerley, Chris Lacey, Ollie Sewell, Dave Wiliams, Mark Young, Scott Mason, Tom Hudson, Dave Goode, Ash Jarvis, Simon Clarke, Andy Gray, Andy Powell, Tim Price, Dave Greaves,
Scorers - Andrew Gray, Andy Powell and David Goode
Man of the match - David Goode
More details - www.harriersfansteam.co.uk
