Notts County 1(0) v (0)3 Kidderminster Harriers

Two penalties from Dean Keates and Chris Beardsley's fifth goal of the season gave Harriers a well-deserved win on their first visit to Meadow Lane, stretching their unbeaten run to four games and keeping their hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

Lee Jenkins did not shake off his knee injury so Simon Weaver came into the team at right back, the only change from the side that beat Cheltenham last weekend and there was a surprise place on the bench for Reuben Hazell.  With a settled team Harriers and a couple of good results behind them Harriers are beginning to play with confidence and they started this game on the offensive, taking the game to Notts from the off.  After just five minutes a Johnny Mullins free kick was cleared by Shane McFaul just as it was heading to the bottom corner of the net and shortly afterwards JOhn McGrath shot narrowly over the bar with an overhead kick.

Harriers dominated the game in the first half and created a string of chances; Saul Deeney was called into action by Beardsley, his snap shot after being set up by Blair Sturrock was hit straight into the keeper's midriff.  On 20 minutes a free kick from the left wing by Tom Bennett evaded most in the penalty area and hit Wayne Hatswell at the far post, the skipper not expecting it to reach him was unable to control the ball and it went wide.  Moments later another Bennett free kick from the left was headed goalwards by Beardsley, his attempt was blocked and Bertrand Cozic fired over the bar from close range as Harriers looked set to run away with the game.

At the other end Harriers were almost made to rue their missed chances; a throw from the right came to Hurst who cut inside and arrowed a shot towards the top corner but John Danby got over well to save and grabbed hold of the loose ball at the second attempt.  Harriers continued to press and Sturrock was played in on the right but his shot to the near post found the side netting when maybe a shot to the far post may have been the better option.  Before the break Bertrand Cozic set up Keates but his 30-yard effort was hit straight at the keeper.

After the interval Harriers continued to control the game and the expected onslaught from the home team never came.  Just two minutes into the new half skipper Hatswell went close with a free kick from just outside the penalty area that whizzed across goal and wide of the far post.  Bennett picked out Mullins with a deep cross from the left that the youngster headed just over the bar and then Harriers had their best chance of the match so far; Beardsley jinked his way into the penalty area on the left, right to the goalline, and tried a shot that cannoned away off the near post when both Cozic and Sturrock were unmarked and calling for the pass at the far post.

In a rare County attack David Pipe played the ball in from the right to Mark Stallard who was allowed to turn on the edge of the penalty area but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.  Harriers continued to look dangerous at set-pieces and a Bennett free kick from the left found Beardsley who headed straight at Deeney and then a Keates kick from the right picked out an unmarked Mark Jackson at the far post but he headed wide.

Finally the breakthrough came fifteen minutes from time; Keates was brought down in the penalty area by Kelvin Wilson and referee Kevin Friend, who was standing just two yards away, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.  Keates picked himself up and took the ball away from Mark Rawle, on as a sub for the subdued Sturrock, who was set to take it and calmly sent Deene the wrong way.  Shortly afterwards there was a mass brawl after a heavy challenge by Paul Bolland on Cozic which earned yellow cards for Bolland and Stallard and also one for Bennett, his tenth of the season meaning he will miss the next two games.

Another good cross from the right caused more problems from the home defence with both Mullins and Beardsley challenging Deeney who just managed to get his fingertips to it and County cleared, but, while play was continuing the keeper had a rush of blood to the head and stamped on Mullins who was lying on the ground in front of him, sparking another mini fight.  fortunately the linesman had seen the incident and brought it to the referee's attention, Deeney was shown the red card and Harriers were awarded another penalty.  Sub keeper Rob Elliot came on for his debut and even though he had been paying attention to the first penalty and dived the way Keates had put that one, the Harriers man went the other way and tucked it into the opposite corner.

County finally woke up in the last couple of minutes and Pipe crossed for Matt Williams but Danby was equal to his header and caught it under the bar.  Danby should have done better, however, moments later when another Pipe cross picked out Stallard at the far post who reached it quicker than the keeper and tucked it away to give the home team a slight hope.  Before they could build on it Harriers had restored their two-goal advantage.  Bennett lofted a left-wing free kick forwards and John McGrath did well to head it across the penalty area to Beardsley who was able to control it before firing past Elliot with the help of a deflection.  Deep in stoppage time County had the ball in the net again but it was not allowed to stand as it nobody had touched the ball on its way in from a throw on the right wing.