Harriers hail in-form attacking duo
Kidderminster manager Mark Yates hailed in-form attackers Matthew Barnes-Homer and Brian Smikle as Harriers plot to build on two wins in three games.
The Aggborough men go to Forest Green tomorrow night in buoyant mood after striker Barnes-Homer and winger Smikle both netted in Saturday's 3-2 home win against Gateshead.
Another goal apiece has the duo locked at the top of the Harriers scoring charts with four goals each for the season, with both looking good bets for a reasonable return come the end of the campaign.
Both were prolific last season, Barnes-Homer got 21 up front while Smikle also chipped in with double figures, ending 2009/10 with a round 10.
And the manager feels both will continue to be a thorn in the side of opposition defences, along with the rest of his aces.
Yates said: "Matthew was very lively and looked back to somewhere near his best. He caused them all sorts of problems and had a hand in all three of the goals, which was great. And Brian has proved he can score goals, he gets into a lot of good positions.
"There are goals all across our team, which is pleasing."
Harriers fans endured some nail-baiting moments on Saturday as the team stuttered at the start of the game, allowing Alex Francis to let fly from 30 yards and put Gateshead ahead.
But harassment from Barnes-Homer forced away defender Chris Swailes to put through his own net in the 25th minute, before the forward fed Smikle to score the second five minutes before half-time.
Kris Gate equalised with a superb volley in the 62nd minute but the home side were not to be denied, Barnes-Homer on the scoresheet with the winner 10 minutes from time.
Yates said: "I thought we deserved the win, we started a bit sloppily but were the better team. They scored a great strike, what a volley from their lad, then we had chances to kill the game and didn't.
"I was thinking 'crikey, I hope this doesn't back to bite us' but, to be fair, I thought we showed a lot of character and scored a good winner. Gateshead are a side that play the right way but we didn't help ourselves with the way we started the game.
"But, apart from that, I thought we were decent enough."
