Club will bounce back, Kidderminster Harriers chief pledges
Their dreams of Wembley and promotion to the Football League may have been crushed following a home defeat to Wrexham – but the message today from the chairman of Kidderminster Harriers was: "We will bounce back."
After last week's disappointment when the side missed out on automatic promotion from the Blue Square Premier, the Harriers were yesterday dealt a second blow when they lost 3-1 to Wrexham in the play-offs at a packed-out Aggborough.
The result left the Welsh side on top 5-2 on aggregate over the two-legged semi-final and they will go to Wembley next month with a chance of promotion to the Football League in place of the Harriers.
Club chairman Mark Serrell admitted disappointment, but refused to be downhearted after the game following club's achievement this season.
He said: "I'm obviously disappointed, I feel for the people of Kidderminster who supported us.
"But it's absolutely brilliant to think that we have had two sell out crowds now after the last two weekends.
"I feel for players now, I certainly feel for Steve Burr but I'm sure that we will regroup and come back stronger for next season."
He added: "I genuinely feel we have had a great season and we will try and kick on, it's going to be hard, but I think the club is geared up and we want to win the league next year and I'm sure we're one of the favourites because of what we have achieved. We will try our best."
Following last Tuesday night's 2-1 loss at Wrexham, the Harriers' faced the task of turning over the one goal deficit to progress to Wembley yesterday. But a first-half goal from Wrexham's Brett Ormerod deflated the home crowd and despite an equalising goal back from Chey Dunkley, two further Wrexham goals from Joe Clarke and Neil Ashton killed off the tie.
At the final whistle a couple of hundred Wrexham fans ran on the pitch in delight before being met by police, who slowly ushered them back behind the advertising boardings. Many Harriers fans stayed on to applaud their players off the field.
Gordon Haden, aged 76, of Prospect Road in Stourport, said: "We are disappointed. The team have certainly played better than they did today, but we have to hold our heads up high and be happy with what we have achieved.
Craig Broomfield, aged 20, of Stafford, said the result was hard to take.
