TWO goals inside the final ten minutes from substitute Taiwo Atieno handed Harriers a superb opening day win as they came from behind to beat play-off hopefuls Woking at Aggborough today.

With the rain lashing down fiercely upon the playing surface, conditions were far from easy but both sides at times were able to play some good football with the ball spraying around quickly.

After merely two minutes, the visiting supporters thought their team had got off to a dream start as the ball nestled in the back of John Danby's net - referee Robert Desmond silenced their cheers as the goal was disallowed for what was an obvious push on the Harriers stopper.

FLEMING: Unlucky not to score with long-range effort.

In the seventh minute, Wayne Hatswell found himself found himself in a decent forward position as he managed to fire the ball into the feet of Michael Blackwood, but before the pacey midfielder could control it and focus an attempt on goal, Woking goalkeeper Shwan Jalal rushed out to clear any danger.

Ten minutes later Craig McAllister went close with a thunderbolt of a free kick, which Danby did well to hold and clutch to his chest.

Terry Fleming was next up to try his luck with a long range effort just seconds later, but his low drive from outside the area was deflected wide.

The visitors had arguably the best chance of the half in the 20th minute as experienced midfield man Ian Selley raced clear of the home defence, before squaring an exquisite ball to Justin Richards, who, with just the 'keeper to beat, fired a low shot towards goal which was saved excellently by the feet of Danby.

12 minutes later, Michael Blackwood rose well to meet a decent cross by Wayne Evans only for the powerful header to sail wide of the goalpost.

Half Time: Harriers 0-0 Woking

With the rain finally relenting after the half-time break, Harriers' got off to the worst possible start by conceding a sloppy goal with the second period just nine minutes old.

After a relatively harmless cross was fired into the penalty area, the home defence was caught static as confusion between the defence and goalkeeper allowed RICHARDS to pounce on the loose ball and fire it home, much to the delight of the Cards' away following.

Four minutes later Simon Russell let fly with a powerful drive towards goal that was deflected wide by the visiting defence. From the resulting corner, Iyseden Christie connected with a good header that was somehow scrambled off the line.

With 70 minutes on the clock Russell was again involved as he went close, when, after gaining a clear sight of Jalal's target, the midfielder shot high with a looping ball that came to rest just on the wrong side of the crossbar.

Christie put on something of a mini one-man show with 15 minutes left to play, as his trickery took him past three Woking defenders, only for his grounded shot to land squarely in the arms of Jalal.

He again found himself clear on goal with just eight minutes to go after leaving the Cards' back-line for dead, only to be brought down crudely in the penalty area by Liam Cockerill, who was booked for the challenge by referee Desmond who had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

ATIENO: Sensational debut - two goals in 11 minutes!

With designated penalty kick-taker Lee Thompson substituted just moments earlier, it was his replacement, loanee Taiwo ATIENO who showed the courage to step up to the challenge. After commotion died down, the youngster showed true coolness to dispatch the kick past the outstretched hands of the 'keeper.

Having drawn his side level with just his second touch of the game, it was the same man again who snatched a dramatic late winner to send Aggborough wild.

With the clock ticking down, Hatswell fired an inch-perfect cross into a cluster of players, and it was ATIENO who rose highest to head the ball home from some 17 yards - a sublime goal fit to win any match.

Understandably it was merely a matter of 'keep-ball' for the home side as the remaining seconds ticked away, but the final whistle eventually blew to get life back in the Conference back to the best possible start for Harriers.

Full Time: Harriers 2-1 Woking

THE TEAMS:

HARRIERS: Danby, Evans, Jackson, Hatswell, Burgess, O'Connor, Fleming, Christie, Thompson (Atieno 79), Blackwood, Russell (Sheldon 76).

Subs not used: Lewis, Burton, Wilson.

WOKING: Jalal, Jackson, Aggrey (El-Salahti 9), McDonald, Selley, Murray, Richards, Blackman, Cockerill, Evans, McAllister (Sharpling 66).

Subs not used: Davies, Smith, Ferguson.

Attendance: 1,926

Referee: Robert Desmond (Wilts)

Sponsors Man of the Match: Iyseden Christie (Selected by West Bromwich Building Society.)

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