Harriers see off Altrincham to get back on track

MICHAEL Gash inspired Harriers to get back on track and see off a spirited Altrincham side on Tuesday night.

The hitman made the most of his first start for the Reds this season with the opening goal in the 37th minute.

Craig Reid quickly followed up with a second, before Marvin Johnson bagged a third in the second half to finally see off the visitors, who had Simon Richman dismissed in the 51st minute.

Reece Styche grabbed a fourth goal during injury time to seal a satisfying night for manager Gary Whild.

Victory ensured Harriers got back on track after successive defeats to Southport and Braintree.

Whild made four changes from the side which had lost to Braintree.

After numerous cameos as a substitute, Gash was given his chance to shine and played alongside Reid, while Nathan Blissett and Reece Styche dropped to the bench.

With Jared Hodgkiss absent, rookie Jake Green was handed his first ever Vanarama Conference start, while Jamie Grimes was restored in midfield at the expense of Aman Verma.

But it was the away side who edged a tight opening 20 minutes.

The visitors boasted seven goal hitman Damien Reeves but it was his strike partner Kyle Perry who had their best chance in the 11th minute but his first time effort was saved by keeper Danny Lewis.

Harriers had struggled to find their fluency going forward but grew in confidence as the first half wore on.

Grimes was unlucky not to open the scoring in the 32nd minute, when his rasping left-footed effort smashed off the post.

But two goals in three minutes put Kiddy in charge.

Gash had been used to coming on as a substitute this season but he highlighted his quality in the 37th minute, when he dispatched a rasping volley into the back of the net after a clever flick from Reid.

Reid then bagged his second goal in four games in the 40th, firing home from close range after a keeper David Parton had parried Johnson's firm cross/shot.

Johnson could have added a third after a surging run moments later but blazed wide.

Altrincham were reduced to ten men in the 51st minute when Richman, who had been booked in the first half, was slapped with a second booking for a late tackle on Josh Gowling.

The game became niggly for the following few minutes, with Kidderminster midfielder Jack Byrne also going into the referee's notepad.

Altrincham left-back Scott Leather tried a long range effort which was saved by Lewis.

But the game game to life in the 67th minute when Lewis denied Jake Moult smartly.

Substitute Verma then steered an effort wide for the hosts.

Reid then rose to meet Kevin Nicholson's cross and nodded it the wrong wide of the far post.

But Harriers made it 3-0 in the 72nd minute when substitute Styche found Verma.

The midfielder astutely slipped the ball to Johnson on the left and he placed a fine effort into the top right corner.

Verma nearly added a fourth moments later, but his effort ricocheted off Gash, who was standing on the Altrincham goal line.

Altrincham never gave up and continued to search for a goal, with former Kidderminster man Tom Marshall firing over the bar in the 89th minute.

But Harriers looked capable of increasing their lead and wideman Ahmed Obeng saw an effort fly over the woodwork.

But substitute Styche rounded off a good evening for the Aggborough outfit, racing onto Nicholson's pass to score his first Harriers goal in the league in the 94th minute.

Harriers: Lewis, Green, Storer (Verma, 63), Dunkley, Byrne, Johnson, Gash (Obeng, 77), Reid (Styche, 71), Grimes, Nicholson, Gowling.

Sub not used: Blissett, Singh.

Altrincham: Parton, Leather, Havern, Marshall, Griffin (Clee, 66), Richman, Cavanagh, Moult, Lawrie (Gillespie, 59), Perry, Reeves (Wilkinson, 77).

Subs not used: Coburn, Williams.t Referee: Richard Martin (Somerset) Attendance: 1451 (90)