Harriers' play-off hopes were dealt a major blow by Oxford's last-gasp winner from substitute Manny Omoyimni
that gave the home team a win that they didn't deserve.
Harriers started the game as they had played much of the previous one against Hartlepool and were quickly on
the attack. After just three minutes Dean Bennett broke free on the right wing and his cross to the far
post just evaded the outstretched leg of Bo Henriksen. Eight minutes later Harriers had an even better
chance to open the scoring, a deep cross from the left found an unmarked JJ Melligan at the far post but he
headed straight at Andy Woodman in the United goal.
The two teams were well matched and after Harriers' bright opening the home team came back into the game and
the play became quite scrappy and bogged down in midfield. The home team then took the lead ten minutes
before the interval when Harriers were unable to adequately defend a corner. Bobby Ford took the corner
playing it short to Scott McNiven who crossed low to Paul McCarthy just inside the penalty area who had time
to turn and sweep a low shot just inside Stuart Brock's right-hand post.
Harriers soon hit back and levelled the scores two minutes before the break. Sam Shilton's right wing
corner was headed down at the far post by Andy Bishop and Henriksen was on hand to stab in his 20th goal of
the season. In stoppage time at the end of the half Harriers had the ball in the net again, Bennett's
cross-shot was turned in by Henriksen but the Dane had been flagged offside.
After the break the game continued in similar fashion with the play centred around the midfield area. Harriers
were stopping Oxford from playing the way they wanted and the home team were forced to resort to numerous
long balls. Andy Crosby saved the home team after 56 minutes, Sean Flynn played a good ball through the
middle of the Oxford defence to Henriksen but Crosby made a perfectly timed tackle just as the Harriers man
was about to shoot.
At the other end Danny Williams pulled out a similar save to keep Oxford at bay blocking Matt Robinson's shot
to concede a corner after Ford had got away on the right to create the chance. As the game drew to a
close and Harriers looked set to hold on for point Craig Hinton was caught in possession by United's Andy Scott
who set free sub Manny Omoyimni and he outpaced the sluggish Dion Scott to slot a shot under the advancing
Brock and win the game for the home team.
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