The Herne Bay Harriers Under 12s Juniors looked to carry on there recent run of good form when they took on Deal Town Rangers Under 12s at a rain soaked Herne. Deal Town attacked quickly from the start with a shot from outside the box sailing just wide after 3 minutes. A few minutes later a corner for Deal fell to a red shirt who shot just over the bar.

The Harriers created their first chance 5 minutes in, a Archie T through ball squeezing through to Joe who shrugged of the defender, but with the goalkeeper closing him down, shot powerfully at him who made a good save.

Deal Town Rangers then went close, with an effort which whistled over the bar. A few minutes later a corner fell to a Deal player who could only lift their shot over the bar. Archie T then sent Joe away with a through ball which was hit powerfully, but at the goalkeeper, which went out for a corner. Archie T then fought for a loose ball on the halfway line and got in on goal by using his pace but again a Harriers shot was met by the gloves of the Deal Town Rangers goalkeeper.

After such an eventful opening quarter of an hour the game started to settle. But the Harriers kept attacking down both flanks with Zeb and Archie T showing some great link up play. Oliver made a great last ditch tackle as Deal looked to break. Whilst Josh F made a good save from an effort from outside the box. Joe then pressed with Kyle A and won the ball of the defender, went around the goalkeeper bur from a tight angle his shot just trickled wide.

After 20 minutes of the all action game the crowd were by now very invested in their support and only a last ditch clearance of the line by Kyle A and a superb double save by Josh F kept the score at 0-0. Somehow reaching so quickly to divert the ball over the bar with part hand, part head.

Joe then got in down the left hand side after a through ball by Riley W and his sumptuous lobbed effort for all its money looked like it was going in but just sailed wide. Then though came the breakthrough. A free kick for an offside deep in the Harriers half was taken by Zeb, Archie T on the halfway line arched and timed his run to perfection, ran through and with the keeper coming out of his box finished with a sweet left foot finish into thr near post. The half time whistle sounded after a great first half by the Harriers.

As the second half got underway, Deal camme close twice with shots just going wide. Zeb then drove down the right hand side and got in, but his shot was collected by the goalkeeper.

Deal Town then upped their game and came on strong second half but the Harriers fought for their lives. A long ball into the box was dealt with by a diving Josh F. He then saved a powerful effort which hit the underside of the bar and came back out. The quip on the sidelines was he was the new Aaron Ramsdale. But for now he's Harriers' number one!

Another Deal chance came and went as yet again the ball hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced just infront of the line and came back out to safety. Deal had another shot which just went wide. Showing why they were a team so high up the table and were unbeaten since the first weekend of the season.

Still though the Harriers held firm and fought fire with fire, a driving run by Kyle A forced a ball through to the feet of Riley L infrot of goal who shot just agonisingly wide. Josh F made another smart in what was proving to be an outstanding performance by himself again. A corner then was met by the head of Riley L who headed the ball unluckily wide for the Harriers.

Joe had a chance after a lofted pass by the new Kyle, unfortunately his shot was saved with the follow up finding Riley W who shot just narrowly wide.

Unbelievably Deal hit the crossbar for a third time with 10 minutes to go, A brilliant long range effort which come crashing down and forced Josh F into another neat save before dropping onto the ball. A succession of corners came and went for Deal. With 5 minutes to go though, Deal had restored themselves level. A slip at the back allowed the striker through who finished past Josh F, who could do nothing about it. The cleansheet he thoroughly deserved had gone, the Harriers though had to keep their heads with just a few minutes remaining. Another corner for Deal eventually forced Josh F into another save, whilst a shot hit the side netting for Deal. And with that came the end of an enthralling game.

The Harriers had put in their best performance of the season and taken a really good side right to the brink of defeat. A good draw after all.
Congratulations to Josh F who was made MOM after a superb performance in goal. His best to date.

Onto the next as the Harriers upturn in form continues.

#uptheharriers