A supreme display of attacking football today, lads and a result which puts us firmly in the driving seat going into the second leg at the end of August.
We started exceptionally well and moved the ball quickly which meant JB were doing the running early on. We were sharp, first to every 50/50 and were unlucky not to take the lead early on as Jon Cutler steamed into the penalty area and probably should have scored but was denied by a good save by the JB keeper. It turned out we didn’t have to wait long for the opener. Ivan played in Mumford who powered a shot into the roof of the net past the despairing keeper to make it 0-1 to the Harriers.
The goals seemed to come thick and fast from this moment on and it wasn’t long before we were two ahead after Raymond headed in from Eddy Downs inch perfect corner. The third goal followed soon after through Lukey G who headed in from another excellent corner from Eddy Downs.
We then suffered a slight set back as JB went up the other end shortly after to score from almost their first shot. Bruce so often comes off his line brilliantly was caught out as the JB striker lobbed him from just inside the penalty area. This didn’t deter us from attacking at every opportunity and it wasn’t long before Matt headed home from another corner, this time from Raymond’s delivery. The fifth goal would soon follow after good play from, yours truly played in Eddy Downs whose shot was saved well by the JB keeper but was helpless to stop Mumford squaring to Steve Bruce who couldn’t miss from yards out. Half time, 1-5 to the Harriers.
We started the second half quite timidly in comparison to the first but maintained our commitment and concentration which limited JB to any real threatening attacks early on. We then managed to score a sixth after Matt pounced on a hesitant JB defender to grab his second goal of the game. The best goal of the game however, was yet to come. Mumford who had already scored one and made one, put in a deep cross which Lukey G thundered in on the volley from just outside the area. A truly superb goal which even the JB opposition could only applaud.
1-7 to the Harriers and we should have made sure we closed out the game but it was clear this was going to be easier said than done as several legs seemed to be flagging towards the final stages of the game. JB piled on their first real bit of pressure of the game and were rewarded with a second goal late on which was frustrating to concede considering how well we had defended for the majority of the game.
There was still time for the us to grab one more goal and it was scored through an unlikely source (yet again!). Matt, who had already scored two in this game after only scoring one for the entire season last season, managed to pouch on a loose ball inside the area to drill in his hat-trick goal.
Now typically, anyone that scores three goals in a game would easily bag the MOM award but I can’t not give this to Lukey G after his quite brilliant volley in the second half.
All in all, lads, brilliant. Couldn’t fault the commitment, energy, tenacity, everything really! I don’t want us to get too ahead of ourselves through. This is only one result and this is still pre-season so we need to stay grounded and take each game as it comes.
COYH!!!!!
