CARLISLE 1, HARRIERS 0

IT is little wonder Kidderminster Harriers have such a poor record at Brunton Park with performances like Saturday's.

Rookie goalkeeper John Danby and the woodwork kept the score down as Harriers came perilously close to a real hiding at bottom-of-the-table Carlisle.

The 1-0 defeat, only their second loss in eight games, was a timely reminder why Jan Molby's men have found themselves fighting against relegation.

Carlisle may be one of the division's form teams in their bid to pull off yet another great escape from a drop to the Conference but they were allowed to out-play their visitors at the weekend.

Harriers, now with just one draw from four visits to the city, were described as "powder puff" by Molby.

While being completely aware of the class of Carlisle player-manager Paul Simpson, they allowed the former Derby player, who seems to be a real man on a mission, to dictate much of the clash.

But the Cumbrians will not have expected the impressive Danby, in only his fifth first-team start, to be such a formidable opponent between the posts.

Indeed they had to wait until the 79th minute to beat the big keeper who had no chance with Craig Farrell's bottom-corner finish from 15 yards.

The hosts dominated from the start and Worcestershire-born Andy Preece was only denied a clear sight of goal by an interception from Matt Gadsby who did a reliable job at centre-half.

Simpson pulled the trigger from 25 yards but, in what became a fascinating battle between experience and youthful enthusiasm, Danby was equal to the danger with a useful save down to his right.

Harriers did themselves no favours by treating the ball like a hot potato and they were extremely fortunate not to be a goal down by the 10-minute mark.

Preece glanced a Brendan McGill cross onto the base of the post with his head, while Wayne Hatswell blocked well from Peter Duffield who scuffed the rebound wastefully wide.

Danby twice collected safely from lively midfielder McGill before Harriers finally threatened their opponents on 33 minutes but Mark Yates nodded Scott Stamps' corner wide from close range.

And the let-up was only brief as Danby had to pull off one of his saves of the game to frustrate Simpson again on 38 minutes.

Gadsby's clearance was met on the volley by skillful Simpson from fully 40 yards only for a back-pedalling Danby to claw away the fiendishly accurate effort with his right hand.

The Harriers keeper was at it again just before the interval, blocking alertly from Farrell with his feet after the forward was handed a one-on-one opportunity by Duffield.

Simon Brown, looking for his third goal in as many games, began to see more of the ball in the second half but still nowhere near enough as Harriers' passing game went to pot.

The West Brom loan star teased Carlisle on the right on 51 minutes but his fine cross was hooked wildly off target by Leon Clarke at the far post.

Yet Carlisle, roared on by more than 7,000 fans, took over again as Duffield was denied by Danby and then Gadsby stretched out a leg to defy Simpson.

However, it was the post that stopped the Carlisle boss on 56 minutes when he was given far too much time to let fly from 25 yards.

Still under the cosh, Harriers were lucky to escape a penalty appeal after Stamps appeared to foul McGill and Molby's feelings were only too obvious as he berated the full-back.

Off went Stamps for Steve Burton, in the first game of his second spell with the club, and Jesper Christiansen had also been introduced for the ineffective Clarke.

But that was only following Simpson's best chance of the match, fashioned by a good move from Mark Boyd, Farrell and Preece, which he surprisingly drilled into the advertisement boards.

Christiansen, still adapting to English football, conjured Harriers' brightest moment on 67 minutes, flicking the ball past his defender but seeing his drive parried away by keeper Matt Glennon.

Farrell gave Danby an easy save on 73 minutes but the former Leeds youngster was on the spot soon after to score a valuable goal for Carlisle when sub Kelvin Langmead chested McGill's cross into his path.

Harriers had nothing in response and only Danby's terrific stop prevented McGill adding a second two minutes from time with a 20-yard rocket.

CARLISLE: Glennon; Shelley, Andrews, Gray (Arnison 66), Murphy; McGill, Boyd, Simpson; Farrell; Duffield, Preece (Langmead 77). Subs not used: Foran, Rundle, Keen.

HARRIERS: DANBY 9; Hinton 5, Gadsby 7, Hatswell 6, Stamps 5 (Burton 62, 6); Yates 5, Jenkins 5 (Parrish 79); Murray 5; Brown 6, Williams 5, Clarke 5 (Christiansen 59, 6). Subs not used: Brock, Foster.

ATTENDANCE: 7,296.

SHOTS ON: Carlisle 12, Harriers 2.

SHOTS OFF: Carlisle 7, Harriers 6.

CORNERS: Carlisle 6, Harriers 6.

GOALS: Farrell 79.

YELLOW CARDS: Carlisle 0, Harriers 1 (Williams).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: John Danby. Harriers' keeper has seized his chance in goal and kept the score down at Brunton Park with some impressive saves. Showed good handling and dealt well with several dangerous crosses.