HARRIERS IN THE MIX THANKS TO CHAMBERS
Moors lose to Ash double
ASHLEY CHAMBERS netted a brace to help Kidderminster Harriers reignite their late play-off push, and put a dent in Spennymoor Town’s slim title chances in the process at a wet and windswept Aggborough yesterday.
A goal in each half from Chambers, who netted a hat-trick in Harriers’ last home outing against Nuneaton, saw the Carpetmen move to within a point of the play-offs, whilst the Moors are now ten points adrift of leaders Chorley.
Harriers’ boss Mark Yates said told The NLP: “I thought we deserved the win.
“One thing that spoils any football match is wind, but I thought it was an exciting game, there was lots of goalmouth action from both teams.
“We had to play the conditions and be brave, and they threw everything forward at the end, but we stood firm.
“We were right in there competing. Sometimes you can’t just go about playing pretty football, and I thought we were tremendous at the back today.”
Harriers took the lead in the 21st minute with a slick move. Ryan Johnson won the ball in his own half and laid the ball off to Liam McAlinden who launched off on a mazy run.
The Cheltenham Town loanee threaded the ball neatly through to Chambers who placed a left-footed finish past Matthew Gould in the Spennymoor goal.
Gould denied Harriers a second in spectacular fashion shortly after the half hour mark, making a stunning one handed save from a Chambers volley at point blank range, after Joe Ironside had cleverly headed down Billy Daniels’ cross.
While the first half wasn’t mundane, the game really sprung into life after the break, firstly as the Moors grabbed an equaliser.
Stephen Brogan’s cross was headed away by Harry Flowers, but his misdirected clearance caught the wind and Brandon Hall was forced into a fine reaction save.
The ball fell kindly to Shaun Tuton who crossed for the league’s top scorer Glen Taylor to nod in at the far post.
Harriers immediately regained the lead as Chambers doubled his tally just 12 seconds after the restart.
McAlinden’s hopeful cross should have been cleared by James Curtis but the Spennymoor skipper missed his kick and an unmarked Chambers finished coolly from ten yards.
Spennymoor pushed hard in the latter stages for an equaliser and thought they had sneaked a point through a Taylor header in the 90th minute, but the effort was ruled out for a foul.
The day ended on a sour note for the visitors, as Rob Ramshaw received a red card for an incident that took place shortly after the final whistle.
Spennymoor chief Jason Ainsley said: “We shot ourselves in the foot, conceding straight from the kick off after equalising.
“It’s disappointing. I think they did better with the ball than we did this afternoon.” STAR MAN: Ashley Chambers (Kidderminster) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★