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Match Report
by Laurence Reade
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page Oxford United 2 (McCarthy, Omoyinmi) Kidderminster Harriers 1 (Henriksen) At times this was painful to watch, as United stuck with the same ultra defensive line up that defended for 86 minutes to beat Lincoln. However this was in many ways a very different performance as at times United did their best to take the game to the visitors. Kidderminster also came to play and Bennett's low cross just beat Henriksen charging in at the back post. United were having the majority of the possession but Ford and Savage were often wasting the ball that was being won for them by the terrier-like Waterman. A Melligan header was directed straight at Woodman as the visitors continued to show more adventure than many. On 30 minutes a long Ford ball along the left touchline found Scott whose snap shot whistled just over the bar. Whilst the play continued to be open, the poor final ball meant that the chances became increasingly at a premium. For Harriers, Bishop, sporting easily the worst haircut of the season provided the main threat, whilst the Oxford Mail stand grew steadily more frustrated but thankfully managed to keep the noise positive. Robinson was proving to be a revelation his mazy run into the box will be remembered with some satisfaction. Brock did well to dive to his left to stop the shot. Kidderminster immediately struck back as a mix up in the box found Shilton found himself open at the back of the box with a free shot. How he failed to hit the target only he will ever know. Then on 37 minutes United took the lead, and typically it was through a set play. A Ford corner taken in front of the travelling fans dribbled low down in to the box. Scott helped it on before McCarthy at the back of the box slammed a low drive past Brock into the bottom left corner. Criminally United failed to hold the lead until half time. On 44 minutes, a Bennett corner on the right was floated to the back of the box. Bound's header out was weak and so Shilton played the ball back in for an unmarked Henriksen to lash home. There was still time in a half for Bennett to dribble past Robinson for Henriksen to stroke past Woodman, but he was deemed just offside. Atkins had obviously lost patience with Ford and Savage's poor passing as Whitehead replaced Savage for the second half. United took time to adapt to the change, the midfield sat too deep and Scott had to work extremely hard to see any ball at all. Kidderminster were seeing plenty of the possession but lacked the quality to make United pay. Foley was finding it difficult to get into the game, and it was of little surprise when Manny Omoyinmi replaced him. United slowly began to gain the ascendancy as Whitehead found increasingly found both time and space on the right, and importantly started running at the Kidderminster defence. A Waterman dinked ball found Ford whose cross rebounded out to Robinson. His shot was blocked by Brock at the expense of a corner. Kidderminster sensed their season ebbing away and committed two appalling fouls that could easily have warranted 2 red cards. Firstly Henriksen scythed down McCarthy and almost immediately after, a worse challenge saw Williams chop down Whitehead. Shamefully Referee Williamson didn't see it judging by the fact that he consulted his linesman before ticking off Shilton. Hopefully the assessor saw it and will take appropriate action. Thankfully United managed to erase the memory with a well worked winner. On 88 minutes the ball was played out of the midfield and flicked on by Andy Scott. Omoyinmi raced through, beat Dion Scott for pace before drawing Brock and placing his drive into the bottom left corner. United defended the final few minutes at the expense of Henriksen blasting over the bar, and saw their play of hopes right back on track.
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