Malbon makes a memorable debut (From Worcester News)

Malbon makes a memorable debut

12:12pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Reports

Alfreton 0
Harriers 2

Better late than never...

With the clock hitting 90 minutes, Harriers’ play-off hopes looked to have suffered a setback after being frustrated for long periods by obdurate 10-men of Alfreton.

But the Reds’ resistance was shattered by new signing Anthony Malbon, who wrote himself into Harriers’ history with a memorable debut strike.

Top-scorer Jamille Matt completed the scoring in the fifth minute of time added on as the Aggborough outfit highlighted their promotion credentials with a hard-fought victory.

Harriers have made a habit of finding goals at the death in the last few months which is proof they can go the distance in the chase for the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off spots.

Memorable late goals against the likes of Forest Green, Ebbsfleet and Hayes and Yeading have provided valuable points and helped to catapulted them into the top-five.

But this was the best late show of them all because Harriers looked as though they would only earn a point against Nicky Law’s battlers.

The visitors had been the better side in the first-half but Louis Moult’s dismissal before the break only galvanised the hosts.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Alfreton did their best to push Harriers back but found the away team’s defence more than up to the task of seeing off their aerial bombardment.

The breakthrough looked like it would elude them until late on, when Malbon announced his arrival in truly dramatic style.

The 20-year-old, who had barely time to breathe after signing from Newcastle Town for an initial fee of £7,000 only 24-hours before, made the right impression in the 90th-minute with a well-taken opener.

Dan Bradley delivered a pin-point right-wing cross, which Malbon smashed beyond keeper Dan Lowson with a fine first-time effort at the far post, to lift the army of Harriers fans behind the net off their feet.

Victory was sealed five minutes later, when Jamille Matt swept the ball home after being set-up by substitutes Callum Gittings and Steve Guinan to make it 14 goals for the campaign and his 10th in 11 games.

Afterwards, Harriers’ newest hero was glad to have played his part in a vital win.

He said: “I am happy to score but the most important thing was to get all three points.

“I think the goal will help me settle down quicker. I am just happy to get a chance, I’ve come on for Port Vale and got five minutes here and there before but that is not enough time to impress and hopefully I’ve done that.”

Those goals may not have been needed if Harriers had taken their chances in a dominant first-half.

Lee Hendrie steered a fine shot straight at Lowson, Bradley shot over the bar after being set-up smartly by James McQuilkin and central defender Luke Jones flashed a first-time effort just wide.

The game’s turning point came just before half-time when on-loan Stoke man Moult slid in clumsily and caught Kyle Storer with a two-footed challenge.

Despite the referee not hesitating to show him a straight red card, the home fans howled their disapproval and showed their ire by hurling abuse at the away team as they walked up the tunnel at half-time.

But assistant manager Gary Whild felt the match official got the decision spot-on.

“It’s always difficult to play against ten men and Alfreton worked hard in the second-half but we kept going and got our rewards,” he said.

“Alfreton is a difficult place to come but I thought we kept our discipline well and unfortunately their player got sent off, but if you tackle like that you will get a red card.”

Harriers: Breeden 6, Williams 8, Jones 7, Wright 6, Sharpe 7 (Malbon 76), Matt 6, Demetriou 8, McQuilkin 6 (Guinan 62), Storer 7, Bradley 7, Hendrie 7 (Gittings 86). Subs not used: Lyness, Briscoe.

Alfreton: Lowson, Franklin, Law, Streete, Young, J Moult (A Wilson 90+3), Arnold (Clayton 90+3), Jarman, L Moult, Mullan, Quinn. Subs not used: M Wilson, Franks.

Referee: Richard West.

Attendance: 990 (199).