By, Danny Caro
2 min read
ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
Brady rediscovered their winning formula as they came from 2-0 down with strikes from Steven Field, Lee Platt and Josh Hershman against Harmen.
Missing a few senior players including striker Mark Smith and defensive lynchpin Jason Sears, Brady were forced to have newly-engaged Nick Stern as their captain at the back, and started in the exact way manager Josh Rosenfeld did not want to see.
They could not get their passing together and more often than not resorted to the long ball, and without Smith the ball was not sticking.
Harmen struck first blood, when Alex Hershman, playing against his brother - scoring sensation Josh Hershman - met a clearance with a first-time volley, which Oli Colmans could only get his finger-tips to and it soared into the bottom corner.
Brady never really looked liked scoring, besides one move late in the first half which saw the Harmen keeper save well at Lee Platt’s feet.
But then Colmans proved why he had kept his place in JC Team of the Week, with a full-stretch flying save to prevent a David Marcus free kick which look destined to nestle in the corner.
The second half started much the same with Brady struggling to get a foot hold on the game. However Zak Presky, back from a long-term injury, gave them a lot more ability and pace at the back.
In the 60th minute Colmans clattered the Harmen forward and the referee awarded a penalty with no real argument from the Brady boys. Colmans could not perform heroics this week, as Marcus put Harmen 2-0 up.
Brady’s promotion hopes looked to be fading and Rosenfeld threw on Darren Stern and Craig Cohen in the hopes to rescue the game.
The visitors were handed a lifeline through a moment of magic from wonder kid Steven Field. He scored a scorcher from 20 yards which the Harmen keeper could simply watch.
With the bit between their teeth, it was gmae on two minutes later as Josh Hershman answered his brother back by rounding the keeper following a Field through ball to equalise. And with five minutes remaining Lee Platt scored an exquisite free kick.
Harmen were kicking themselves for throwing this away, after it seemed so comfortable. There was enough time for Brady to almost make it four, as Josh Gordon’s header edged just wide, Cohen had a shot well saved, and match-winner Platt missed from three yards when it would have been easier to score.
Rosenfeld told JC Sport: "Brady showed true grit, resilience, and character to come back with 20 minutes to go and score three goals and win the game. This shows the strength our boys have especially as we missed Jason Sears and Mark Smith.
"Everyone was saying how Brady have been stalling for the past couple of weeks, but we have still lost one league game in 13 and from a brand new side. That's pretty outstanding whatever the remainder of the season has to offer.
"We need to take that character in to next week and every game now is a cup final."
Harmen manager Mark Engel told JC Sport: "Credit to Brady for fighting back from two down. They scored a couple of crackers.
"We can't help but feel a little hard down by after playing well for a large chunk of the game. We know what we have to do and it is in our hands to avoid the drop."