Town Hang On Against Harriers

[Duffer]

Tuesday 8th October 2002

Midland Football Alliance

WILLENHALL TOWN 2 vs HALESOWEN HARRIERS 0

 

 

An action packed opening 5 minutes of this match promised so much, with both teams throwing everything forward in order to grab an early opening. After 2 minutes Town's Price swung a corner across for Bullimore to head in from close range, somehow keeper Turner managed to block the effort on his line.

 

A minute later and Adams (G) capitalised on a defensive error, he slipped the ball past keeper Vaughan only to see his goal bound effort cleared by a recovering Reds defender.

 

After this early excitement the match took a turn for the worse and both teams were guilty of sloppy play.

 

On 26 minutes Ryder dispossessed a Harriers defender, before setting up Bullimore who's effort was just over the bar.

 

The deadlock was broken on 35 minutes when ex-Red Follows took Pearce down in the box. Top scorer Hay stepped up and easily converted the spot kick.

 

The second half brought no improvement, although Hay nearly doubled the score on 56 minutes when he ran onto an error by the Harriers defence, he calmly tapped the ball past Turner only to see Parry brilliantly recover to clear the ball to safety.

 

On the hour a goal mouth scramble saw the Reds scramble away a Parry effort. Then 3 minutes Pearce saw his shot go agonisingly just over the bar.

 

A double substitution on 69 minutes by the Reds almost paid instant dividends when sub Quilt saw his 30 yard effort go screaming over the bar.

 

Not too be out done, a speculative volley by Adams (D) went over Vaughan's goal on 80 minutes.

 

With the Reds looking to have hung onto their unbeaten league record Quilt nearly added a second on 89 minutes when his header was tipped away by Turner.

 

Into injury time and a Pearce cross was flicked on by Quilt before Bullimore headed past Turner from close range to give the Reds a 2-0 victory.

 

Willenhall entertain Stafford on Saturday 12th. 3pm