Match Report : 19/10/2013

Ben Tomlinson, available again following suspension, and Jake Sheridan returned to the starting line-up for this Skrill Premier game against second-placed Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough. 

It was a pleasant afternoon as referee Brett Huxtable led the teams out of the tunnel and once the pre-match formalities were completed, play got underway with City kicking off.

The hosts were quickly out of the traps with Joe Lolley testing Paul Farman in the opening minute whilst City's response saw them win a throw-in at the other end which was flicked wide by Andrew Boyce.

City won the first corner of the game when a deflected Alan Power effort clipped a Harriers' defender but the skipper's subsequent delivery from the quadrant was cleared at the near post.

A minute later Tomlinson fired a snap-shot a foot wide before the striker was inches away from connecting with a Sean Newton centre. Another corner followed and Boyce headed a Tom Miller throw over as the Imps continued to enjoy the better of the early spoils.

Kidderminster's response to this early pressure saw Lee Vaughan force a corner which was wasted and as the Imps pressed at the other end Power fired a shot wide on the turn.

City had Farman to thank in the 19th minute when he did well to block a Nathan Blissett snap-shot with his feet whilst a minute later Power was harshly booked for meaty challenge on Jackman. 

Some decent build-up play from the Imps ended up seeing Tomlinson force Danny Lewis into a smart save whilst at the other end Farman got down well to keep out a low drive from the edge of the box

On the half-hour mark Michael Gash replaced Nathan Blissett up front for the hosts and after a quiet five minutes, Nolan came close when he drilled a long-range strike just wide of the upright.

A Sheridan cross then led to a City corner and Newton fizzed an effort into Lewis's gloves as the Imps pushed forward again. At the other end Power was again harshly pulled up for a foul and when the free-kick was played to substitute Gash he powered home an unstoppable effort into the top corner of Farman's net.

The half ended after one minute of added time.

HT: HARRIERS 1 IMPS 0

A heavy rainstorm during the half-time break made for a very skiddy playing surface as the Harriers restarted proceedings.

The first chance of the second half saw Joe Lolley rattle the woodwork for the hosts with a right-footed effort from just outside the box before they won a corner following a quickly-taken throw-in. 

Nick Wright replaced Todd Jordan in the 52nd minute before a deflected Sheridan cross led to a corner. The City set-piece, however, led to Harriers breaking forward and when Power got in a great block to deflect a Morgan-Smith effort behind, the resultant corner, taken quickly, was played to Lolley who saw his low driven centre hit the unfortunate Andrew Boyce before going over the line.

City looked for a quick reponse with Sheridan denied by Lewis before Newton volleyed over from range whilst at the other end Miller diverted a Jackman centre behind for a corner which ended up with Newton clearing Gowling's downward header.

Anthony Malbon for Jack Byrne was Harriers' second switch in the 66th minute and three minutes later it was 3-0 when a loose ball ran straight to home skipper Kyle Storer who unleashed an unstoppable drive which gave Farman no chance.

Mo Fofana replaced the quiet Jon Nolan in the 73rd minute before the home side won another corner. Marvin Johnson then came on for Lolley.

With 10 minutes on the clock City reduced the arrears when Fofana whipped in a superb cross which was met by fellow substitute Wright who powered in a header against his former side for his first goal in Imps' colours.

Three minutes later Bohan Dixon replaced Luke Foster before Sheridan was upended by Jackman 20 yards from goal. Newton, though, was denied by Lewis at full stretch when he fired in the resultant free-kick.

With four minutes on the clock Tomlinson curled a snap-shot over before Dixon fizzed a shot inches wide following good play by Sheridan down the right.

City were made to pay as, just as the Fourth Official indicated four added minutes, Gash found Malbon in acres of space and he had the easy task of controlling before finishing past Farman to round off a disappointing afternoon for the Imps and their 205 travelling fans.

FT: HARRIERS 4 IMPS 1