Harriers 3, Gateshead 1

SEXY Harriers blew away Gateshead to get the newly-named Skrill Premier campaign off to a winning start.

Apart from a 20 minute wobble in the middle of the match, which allowed the visitors to level the scores, the Aggborough men produced a stylish display to record their first opening day win since the 2010-11 season.

It also ensured there would be no repeat of last season’s poor start, where Harriers failed to pick up a single point from their opening five games.

With new signing Lee Fowler demonstrating his full range of passing skills on his league debut, Harriers started confidently and bagged their opening goal from their first corner.

The impressive Michael Gash ghosted out of the box and flicked a header past ex-Harriers keeper Adam Bartlett.

Then Callum Gittings, who was deservedly man-of-the-match after his all-action display, volleyed over the bar, Anthony Malbon dragged a shot wide, while Bartlett hung in the air superbly to get a hand to Gash’s dipping effort.

But Gateshead bagged a leveller completely against the run of play.

Jamie Chandler burst into the box and forced Danny Lewis into a save, allowing Richard Brodie to tap home from close range.

Harriers were now under pressure.

Mickey Demetriou cleared Ben Clark’s effort off the line and things got worse when Josh Gowling was forced to come off for a spell after being caught in the nose by team-mate Chey Dunkley.

But just as Harriers looked on the back foot they turned on the style as Kyle Storer teed up Gittings and he who scuffed a shot into the pitch and past a despairing Bartlett.

Gash could have increased the lead but his thundering penalty smashed off the bar and Lee Vaughan’s delivery rattled the woodwork after it had caught out Bartlett.

Dunkley made sure of the points when he headed home powerfully from a Lee Vaughan centre.

Harriers: Lewis, L Vaughan, Demetriou, Storer (Byrne 75), Dunkley, Fowler, Gash, Malbon, Johnson (Dior 75), Gittings (Tolley 86), Gowling. Subs not used: Dance, N Vaughan.

Gateshead: Bartlett, O'Brien, Chandler, Clark, Turnbull, Brodie (Larkin, 83), Boyes, Boyes, Brown, Tait, Baxter, Walker. Subs not used: Cummins, Nixon, Marwood, Ramshaw.

Referee: Brett Huxtable.

Attendance: 2,110 (76).