Aldershot 2 Harriers 1
Kidderminster Harriers continued their poor form with a 2-1 defeat at Blue Square Premier leaders Aldershot to make it just one victory in 11 games for the Aggborough men.
Kidderminster Harriers continued their poor form with a 2-1 defeat at Blue Square Premier leaders Aldershot to make it just one victory in 11 games for the Aggborough men.
However this performance was better than the ones in recent weeks as Harriers made the Shots work for this victory, a point not lost on Harriers boss Mark Yates.
"I am delighted with the response of the players, we had a game plan and for much of the game it worked, the players showed commitment and a belief that they could compete and I must admit to being disappointed that we have taken nothing from the game," he said.
"Aldershot are leading the table by right, they have a squad capable of scoring a lot of goals and my players defended well.
"You only have to look at the number of saves Chris MacKenzie had to make to see how well we played, he was virtually untroubled.
"We again switched off for their first goal which was disappointing especially as we had just got ourselves in front, the second goal was a well worked effort."
Harriers started well and Matthew Barnes- Homer showed a clinical finish when bursting onto Creighton's through ball, forcing a blunder from Anthony Charles, and lifting the ball over the advancing Nikki Bull to give the visitors a third minute lead.
Harriers' joy was shortlived, however, as Charles atoned for his mistake forcing MacKenzie to parry a header from Anthony Straker's free kick.
As the ball ran loose, there appeared to be justifiable claims for offside against Elvins, Harding and Hudson as Danny Hylton lashed the ball into the net.
The Shots upped the tempo but found the visitors in no mood to buckle, Russ Penn earning a booking for an over zealous challenge on Lewis Chalmers.
The second half was played in much the same vein as the opening period, Harriers were eager to soak up pressure.
However, on 66 minutes, Aldershot netted what proved to be the winner.
Scott Davies sent a crossfield ball into the path of Joel Grant.
Grant drew the defence before sliding a square ball to Ben Harding whose right footed 20-yard shot curled away from the diving MacKenzie.
Harriers refused to believe the cause was lost, Iyseden Christie, Simon Russell and Darryl Knights were all introduced as a sign of Harriers' attacking intent and in the closing moments the home defence were desperately clearing their lines as the visitors sought an equaliser.
In the final seconds, Knights turned away from his marker to present Christie with a great chance to level but Bull stretched out his right leg and blocked the striker's goalbound effort.
