Kidderminster Harriers 1(0) v (1)1 Rushden & Diamonds

Football Conference National - Aggborough - 5 April 2010

Attendance: 1463

Individual Stats
Kidderminster
Shots
Fouls
Off.
v Rushden
Shots
Fouls
Off.
 
On
Off
For
Ag
     
On
Off
For
Ag
 
Jasbir Singh 5 0(1) 0 0 0 0 [12/1] Dale Roberts 6 0(3) 0 0 1(p) 0
Duane Courtney 5 0 0 2 0 0 [2/22] Shane Huke 5 0 0 3 3 0
Lee Baker 6 0 2 2 1 0[3] Kurt Robinson 5 0 0 0 4 0
Martin Riley 5 0 0 0 0 0 [6/2] Curtis Osano 5 0 0 0 0 0
Luke Prosser 5 0 0 3 0 0 [33/5] Jamie Stuart 5 0 0 1 1 0
Jack Byrne 6 0 1 4 0 0 [27/14] Nicky McNamara 5 0 0 1 2 0
Chris McPhee 5 1(1) 2 3 1 0 [7/4] Max Porter 6 1 0 2 1 0
Darryl Knights 6 1 0 3 0 0 [10/19] Sam Smith 5 0 0 0 0 2
Robbie Matthews 6 0 1 2 3(2h) 1 [21/25] Cliff Akurang 5 1(1) 0 1 5 0
Brian Smikle 7 1(1) 2 2(1p) 2 1 [14/7] Aaron O'Connor 5 0 2 0 0 0
Dean Bennett 6 1(1) 1 1 4 0 [8] Rob Wolleaston 5 0 1 1 2 0
David McDermott      [11/6] Simon Downer 5 0 0 0 0 0
Tom Sharpe      [17/18] Matt Pattison     
James Lawrie      [25/20] Mark Byrne     
Lloyd Kerry      [31/24] Paul Terry 5 0 0 0 2 0
Ross Atkins      [30/27] Jefferson Louis 5 0 0 0 1 0
Team Stats
  Fouls Conceded Offside Corners Shots On Shots off
Kidderminster 11 2 6 4 9
Rushden 22 2 1 2 3
GOALS
Kidderminster Rushden
54 Darryl Knights 28 Max Porter
Formations
Kidderminster
   Singh  
Courtney Riley  Prosser Baker
     
  McPhee Byrne Bennett 
     
  Knights Matthews Smikle 
Rushden
   Roberts  
Huke Osano  Stuart Robinson
     
  Porter McNamara Wolleaston 
     
  Smith Akurang O'Connor 
SUBSTITUTIONS
Kidderminster Rushden
     38 Terry McNamara Terry to central midfield.
     66 Louis Smith Louis to striker, Akurang to inside right.
     79 Downer Huke Downer to right central defender, Osano to right back.
BOOKINGS
Kidderminster Rushden
Baker 66 Foul  McNamara 35 Foul
Terry 49 Foul
Roberts 90+ Foul
 
Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire)
Match Report by St@tto

Harriers dropped two points against play-off chasing Rushden; skipper Chris McPhee's injury time penalty miss, his second miss from 12 yards of the season, proving to be costly.

There was a surprise in the starting line-up: Duane Courtney, who had picked up an ankle injury in the weekend loss at Altrincham that looked set to keep him out for some time, lining-up in his normal position.  There was a return to the side after injury for Lee Baker and Jasbir Singh was given a run out in goal.

A stiff breeze made the game difficult, particularly in the first half, but despite it being in the visitors' favour Harriers had the best of the game in the early stages.  Baker could have given Harriers an early lead after being set up by Brian Smikle but blasted his shot over the bar.  The visitors took the lead, against the run of play, on 28 minutes; McPhee lost possession to Aaron O'Connor who slipped the ball inside to Max Porter, his 20 yard shot was well hit and gave Singh little chance to keep it out.

After the break Harriers were nearly caught on the hop when Cliff Akurang's flick on left O'connor clear but he blasted his shot over the bar.  Within seconds Harriers were level; Robbie Matthews' flick on found Smikle, his pass let Darryl Knights get into the penalty area before tucking his shot to the right of Dale Roberts to record his fourth goal of the season.  Just past the hour mark Singh kept Harriers on level terms with a good save from Akurang's header after Harriers failed to clear a corner from the Diamonds' left.

LEading scorer Smikle should have put Harriers ahead on 68 minutes; MAtthews flick knocked the ball to Knights who opened up the Rushden defence with a pass through the inside-left channel, Smikle made a run into the penalty area but hesitated in getting his shot away - a quick lob would have caught Roberts in no-man's-land - and the keeper was able to push it away for a corner. Harriers were getting on top and looking most likely to add to the scoring now; Smile made a good run to the byline on the left and pulled the ball back to McPhee at the near post but he could only steer it wide of the upright.

Rob Wolleaston could have restored Rushden's lead; a good turn on the edge of the Harriers penalty area left him in a good position but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.  In stoppage time Harriers were handed a golden opportunity to take all three points; Smikle chased down a lost cause ball into the penalty area and was brought down by Roberts.  McPhee took the penalty and though he hit it hard Roberts didn't move and the ball cannoned away off his knee and the visitors were able to hold on to the draw.