Kidderminster Harriers FC
Richards (13)
Smilke (37)
Ferrell (61)

Team:

1 Lee Hook
8 Paul Armstrong (C)
9 Andy Atkin
5 Ben Austin
2 Darren Baker
11 Matt Crabb
3 Neil Jenkins
13 Jay Lovett
6 Marc Pullan
4 Matt Smart
10 Allan Tait

Substitutes:

31 Darren Budd
7 Pat Harding for Tait (65)
18 Simon Wormull for Lovett (65)
15 Nathan Crabb for Smart (65)
22 Chris Winterton

Team:

1 Adam Bartlett
3 Lee Barker
4 Andy Ferrell
5 Mark Creighton (C)
6 Luke Jones
9 Matthew Barnes-Homer
10 Russell Penn
11 Justin Richards
14 Brian Smilke
16 Martin Brittain
21 Keith Lowe

Substitutes:

8 Darryl Knights for Barnes-Homer (83)
12 Dean Coleman
17 David McDermott
20 Dean Bennett for Smike (89)
22 Neil Mackenzie for Brittain (80)

Booked:

Boro Manger Garry Wilson commented at the match 'I'ts difficult to say we 'deserved' a point after our 1st 45 minutes but with our dominance in the closing stages and the chances we created we could argue for a share'. Both he and Head Coach Nick Greenwood emphasised the need for consistency with a list of recent games where the side had produced excellent 'halves' but paid for periods where the opposition dominated.

Boro's dominance was late in the 2nd 45 but had early chances in the opening period; Paul Armstrong firing a 30 yard free-kick inches wide on 5 minutes. Justin Richards, who had a fine afternoon, opened the scoring on 13 minutes when he finished a low cross from Martin Brittain; another Harrier who proved a handful for Boro.

Russell Penn missed a golden opportunity to extend the lead but Ben Austin fired over from 30 yards as he attempted to pull his side back level. Boro had further half chances for Andy Atkin, Matt Smart and Austin again but on 37 minutes the visitors extended their lead when Brian Smilke headed in at the far post after another fine right-wing delivery.



Grateful to be only 2 behind at half-time the Boro management sent their side out with increased purpose and on 51 minutes Allan Tait was only halted on the 18yard line with a deperate last minute tackle. Neil Jenkins tested Adam Bartlett and Jay Lovett headed direct at the stopper from the resulting corner. Just shy of the hour Boro got the reward for their efforts when Atkin flicked home a left-wing delivery; the goal incorrectly awarded to Jenkins on the day. As Boro looked to push the visitors harder Andy Ferrell scored what proved to be his sides winner. Lee Hook made a fabulous low save and as the corner was half-cleared the Harriers No. 4 hammered an unstoppable shot through a crowd of players; 'Hooky' rooted to the spot.



The Boro management and supporters can be rightly proud of their sides response. A triple substitution injected further urgency and on 68 minutes Nathan Crabb delivered a cross for his elder brother Matt to fire home for 2-3.

The crowd and players were obviously fired up and the closing 20 minutes was virtually all 'The Sports'. Simon Wormull fired over and Pat Harding also fired in a good turn and shot but the visitors held out and returned home with all 3 points.

Words - Lee Peskett
Pictures - Lee Smith