Harriers threw a spanner in the works of Torquay's promotion challenge with a late equaliser from skipper Wayne Hatswell. Had they hung on to win United would have moved into the third automatic promotion slot but now will have to win their final game and hope that Huddersfield slip up.
Jan Molby made changes to his line-up again after the pitiful performance in the last game, bringing back Lee Jenkins, Jesper Christiansen, Sean Parrish and Graham Ward at the expense of Leon Clarke, Adam Murray, Matt Gadsby and the suspended Abdou Sall. Molby also began a suspension himself and had to watch the game from the directors' box.
United played some good football and showed why they have had such a good season but Harriers' performance was much improved and they matched their hosts in most areas but lacked a cutting edge in front of goal. Had they had a man with the killer instinct of United's David Graham - the division's third highest scorer - they could have taken the lead after 19 minutes. Christiansen combined with Simon Brown on the right wing with the latter getting behind the full back and crossing low into the goalmouth where the ball was cleared off the foot of Parrish before he could turn it in.
Graham was a constant threat to the Harriers defence and should have done better when he was picked out by a long ball but he couldn't follow up his good turn with a good shot and his effort flew harmlessly over the bar. Minutes later he had another chance when United were awarded a free kick on the right which was taken quickly to set his chance up but his shot went narrowly wide of the far post. United were building up the pressure as the half wore on and had another chance when Liam Rosenior got in a good cross from the right that Kevin Hill headed over at the far post. The pressure finally told three minutes before the break, United attacked but Harriers couldn't clear properly and the ball fell to Hill who found Graham in the inside right channel and he drilled a 25-yard shot past John Danby.
After the break tension began to show in the Torquay performance and Harriers got back into the game. They could have drawn level just after the hour mark when Parrish slid a great ball through the middle for Christiansen to run onto but Arjan van Heusden in the home goal came out well to save at his feet. Danby did well to prevent Jonathan Osei-Kuffour from getting in a shot when he was clear through before Harriers finally grabbed an equaliser. Steve Burton's right wing corner found Hatswell at the far post who volleyed home from close range.
As the game drew to a close it looked as though if anyone was going to win the game it would be Harriers; Scott Rickards, on for a rare sub appearance, created an opening but after good work on the right wing couldn't manage to direct his low cross to a red shirt . The goalscoring combination almost worked again two minutes from time when Burton again picked out Hatswell from a right wing corner but the skipper could only head over at the far post. |