AFC Poppies were denied a deserved victory by a Kidderminster goal three minutes from full-time.
The AFC Poppies side had for large parts controlled the game and looked anything but a side that had only been together for twelve weeks playing against a side that had been together for seven years.
AFC handed debuts to keeper Wayne Sharpe, Centre midfielders David Taylor and Steve Perkins and striker Mel Ridley came in for his first start. The game started at a slow pace with both sides trying to come to terms with the very windy conditions. The first chance fell to Kidderminster put the striker fired well over Sharpe's goal from the edge of the area.
AFC Poppies then began to come into the game more with winger Ross Patrick causing the Kidderminster left back problems with his pace and direct running. From one Patrick run he won a corner that Mel Ridley swung over, the corner missed the keeper and looked like it was heading straight into the top corner but some how the Kiddermister defender headed the ball off the line. From the clearance Kidderminster broke at pace and only a fantastic Wayne Munton tackle stopped the Harries striker from having a clear shot at goal.
Steve Perkins and Dave Taylor were beginning to win the midfield battle and AFC were really starting to get on top. Ross Patrick shot just over, Perkins hit a 30 yard drive wide before Taylor hit a 25 yard strike that shaved the outside of the post with the keeper well beaten. Just before half time Kidderminster had a good chance when the striker raced clear of the AFC back line but he lifted his shot over Wayne Sharpe in the AFC goal and wide of the goal.
Half-Time 0-0
AFC started the second half playing against the wind and up hill put still looked comfortable. Ross Patrick shot just wide from just inside the area and Mark Knight made good space for himself on the edge of the area to hit a shot that the Harries keeper dealt with well. Keeper Wayne Sharpe then made a fantastic one handed save from a shot from 20 yards that looked goal bound all the way.
AFC were then back on the attack and sub Jamie Peacock - on for the disappointing Seb Lund - shot just wide from 18 yards. AFC keeper Sharpe was then forced to come off after feeling the ankle injury he suffered eight months ago and striker Mel Ridley was forced to take over in goal. AFC were given a real let off when a rare Wayne Munton error allowed the Kiddermister striker a clear run on goal but he placed his shot wide of Ridley and wide of the goal.
Ridley then made a smart save before AFC Poppies took a deserved lead with only 10 minutes to play. Ross Patrick saw his first shot blocked but at the second attempt hit a great striker across the keeper into the bottom corner. The Kiddermister side then went with a long ball approach and did push AFC Poppies back for a good time but the AFC defence seemed to be holding firm. That was until 3 minutes before full time when a corner was cleared only to the edge of the area and the Harries player fired home through a crowded area and past a unsighted Ridley in goal.
The game then fizzled out and the full time score left AFC Poppies feeling a little hard done by. After the game manager Darren Young commented on how proud he was of all the players and was pleased with the progress that is clearly being made.
AFC Poppies MOTM - Steve Perkins
Team - 1. Wayne Sharpe (Sub Matt Kirk), 2. Simon Colson, 3. Jamie Wells (sub Matt Spearman), 4. David Taylor (sub Dez Goodwin), 5. Garry Smith (c), 6. Wayne Munton, 7. Ross Patrick, 8. Steve Perkins (sub Matthew Knight), 9. Mark Knight (sub Curtis Kirk), 10. Mel Ridley, 11. Seb Lund (Sub Jamie Peacock)
Subs (not used) - Jacob Sanders, Lee Wright, Mark Severn
