Harriers' mini revival was brought to an end by high-flying Doncaster who recorded their sixth consecutive
victory. After two performances showing promise Harriers reverted to the same dismal levels that have
been seen for most of the season.
Surprisingly new signing Steve Burton was left on the bench and Craig Hinton continued at left back as Jan
Molby continued with the team that finished the midweek game at Northampton. Doncaster were a different
propostition to Northampton, they played less football but were far better organised and hurried and harried
Harriers whenever they had the ball.
Harriers were dealt a blow after just eight minutes, John Williams stretched to reach the ball and pulled
his groin, he was replaced by teenage striker Matt Lewis. The first goalscoring chance fell to the
home team; Kenny Coleman won the ball and advaced on the right, his cross to the far post just evaded the leap
of Sam Shilton. Rovers took the lead after quarter of an hour, Lewis gave the ball away to Greg Blundell
who held off Wayne Hatswell before slotting the ball past Stuart Brock.
Midway through the half the advantage was almost doubled when Rob O'Brien picked up the ball 25 yards from
goal and sent a fierce drive fizzing just past Brock's right hand post. Most of Harriers' good play
was coming from JJ Melligan, but he was getting little support from his teammates and it was often the case
that he was needed on the end of some of the passes that he was making rather than actually making them. Twelve
minutes before the break it was Melligan who created the chance for Graham Ward to call Rovers keeper Andy
Warrington into action for the first time, the Irishman's 25-yard drive being tipped over the bar for a corner.
For the first half there had not been much other than the goal that seperated the sides but after the break
Harriers were decidedly second best as the visitors took control, Harriers attacking frailties becoming more
and more apparent by the minute, it was impossible to see where a Harriers goal might come from. Five
minutes into the second sloppy Harriers defending was nearly punished, the ball came to Paul Green who saw his
shot deflected and Brock had to be at his best to make the save to keep it out. At the other end Danny
Williams' pass put Sam Shilton is a good position, he got to the byline and pulled the ball back across goal
but too far ahead of Lewis and Melligan.
After Harriers made a double substitution and changed to a regular 4-4-2 formation Hinton moved to right back
found himself able to get forward more. After 59 minutes he got up on the right wing and put an excellent
cross into the danger area but Lewis got nowhere near it. Within seconds the play had switched to the
other end, Blundell was in acres of space on the left and his low cross was turned in at the near post by
Brown. Shortly afterwards Michael McIndoe was allowed to dribble into the penalty area but his shot was
deflected wide for a corner.
With no bite in attack Harriers were restricted to long range shots, Danny Williams fired one just over the bar
and soon afterwards he had another chance from closer in when Warrington dropped Melligan's corner at his
feet but his shot was deflected. Ten minutes from the end Williams had yet another chance, this time
with a free kick, but he blasted it over the wall over the goal and over the stand. The last chance
to get some consolation from the game in the last minute, Sean Parrish set Lewis free but his tame effort
was easily blocked by Warrington. Molby can now be in no doubt about the enormity of the task facing
him as he looks to turn the team around. |