Recap: Woking 0-0 Harriers

Enterprise National League

Woking

0 - 0

Sat 19 Sept

The Laithwaite Community Stadium

Kidderminster Harriers

Match ReportLive Game Centre

Lead image: Top Pic Photography

HARRIERS extended their unbeaten run to eight matches with a hard-earned point on the road as they played out a goalless draw with Woking at the Laithwaite Community Stadium. Following games against Hartlepool and Gateshead over the last week or so, it may not have been an all-action showing from Paul Wotton's side, but a determined defensive display and another clean sheet ensured they returned home with a deserved share of the spoils. Harriers enjoyed some promising openings in the first half before being asked to concentrate more on their defensive duties after the break, restricting the hosts to precious few clear-cut opportunities. The visitors threatened in the eighth minute when Callum Dolan played an incisive ball through to Callum Stewart, whose delivery towards the far post was just beyond Reece Devine. The defender appealed for a pull from behind, but nothing was given. Woking responded through Matt Ward, who found space inside the area but lifted his effort over the bar from around ten yards. Harriers went close just a minute later as Ben Crompton delivered an inviting early ball into the area for Levi Amantchi, whose stooping header forced Will Jääskeläinen into a save, the goalkeeper parrying the ball aside. Cian Harries was next to test the home goalkeeper on the half-hour mark, driving a low free-kick towards the near post that was turned behind for a corner. Woking had opportunities of their own before the interval, with Chinwike Okoli unable to direct a header on target after meeting a corner at the far post. Jack Wint was then called upon to make an important save in the 35th minute, sticking out a boot to deny the hosts from inside the area as John Marquis ran clear. Harriers finished the half with another sight of goal as Harries found Stewart, who turned neatly to create space but scuffed his eventual effort a little, sending the ball spinning wide.

The hosts enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges after the restart, though Harriers remained organised and continued to limit their opportunities. Okoli threw himself at a delivery into the area on the hour mark but could only direct his header wide of Wint's goal. Wotton made a double change five minutes later, introducing Zak Brown and Cameron Hargreaves in place of captain David Davis and Amantchi as Harriers looked to maintain their foothold in the contest. The home side's clearest opportunity of the closing stages arrived with five minutes remaining. John Marquis nodded the ball down inside the area and, after his initial attempt was blocked back into back his path, snatched at the rebound and blazed over from six yards. Jaiden Putman then tried his luck from distance in stoppage time, but his ambitious effort from 30 yards was always rising. Harriers held firm to secure another valuable point and clean sheet, extending their unbeaten sequence to eight matches with a disciplined afternoon's work in Surrey