Saturday, August 26, 2000

STEWART Hadley is convinced full-time training is the key to his early season goalscoring form which continued on Saturday when he bagged a brace in Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 Nationwide Division Three victory over Halifax Town.

Hadley pounced in the 38th and 40th minutes to take his tally to four in four matches.

He said: "Full time training sharpens you up. You get up every morning and train instead of coming in to training on the night after working during the day. Now I just concentrate on the football and its great. It's reaping the rewards."

After starting the match by producing some delightful passing football, Harriers were rocked when Halifax took the lead against the run of play in the 21st minute through Steve Gaugan.

Hadley's brace put Kidderminster back in control, but two minutes after the break the Shaymen were awarded a penalty.

Keeper Tim Clarke, however, saved Steve Thompson's spot kick before Kidderminster were reduced to 10 men in the 69th minute when striker Tony Bird was sent off.

Hot-shot Hadley said: "In the first 20 minutes we played some excellent football. We had a few chances, but unfortunately they did not go in.

"Halifax came back into it slightly but overall we completely dominated the first half. Their goal was off their first attack really, but we just had to turn it around."

Manager Jan Molby said: "In the first half our passing movement was superb and really the game should have been out of reach for Halifax by then.

"We gave them a lot of problems, but we found ourselves 1-0 down. It was the first time they had really entered into our penalty area, but to be fair we did well to come back strongly.

"I know Hadley got two goals but it was Andy Ducros' passing and vision that single handily brought us back."

Harriers made an impressive start knocking the ball around confidently and could well have gone ahead on a number of occasions.

Within the opening minute Hadley had a shot pushed away by keeper Tony Parks and then Bird fired just wide of the far post.

Parks also saved from Ducros and Dean Bennett before Gaughan put Halifax ahead when he forced his way through to squeeze the ball in from close range.

It was a stunning setback for Kidderminster who steadily began to regain their composure before Hadley deservedly equalised. The opening was set up by Bennett after his initial shot had been blocked by Parks.

Hadley made it 2-1 when he followed up after having a volley brilliantly parried by the busy Parks.

A couple of minutes after the break it was Clarke's turn to shine when he saved Thompson penalty -- awarded after Adie Smith had handled Steve Kerrigan's header back into the danger zone.

Both sides had another scoring chance each before Bird was given his marching orders for two bookable second half offences.

After that Kidderminster safely held onto their lead and might have gone further in front had it not been for another save by Parks which denied Ducros in the 73rd minute.