Saturday, January 10, 2004

GRAHAM Ward missed a penalty that Dean Bennett should have taken in Kidderminster Harriers' 1-0 Nationwide League Division Three defeat at high-riding Mansfield Town on Saturday.

Three minutes after Ward's spot kick failure the grateful Stags scored what proved to be the winner through Rhys Day.

Afterwards Harriers director of football Jan Molby revealed that Bennett was the player he wanted to take the penalty.

He said: "Scott Stamps said he would take it but I shouted over that Dean Bennett should take it. The next thing Graham Ward ends up with the ball.

"If Dean Bennett doesn't want it then surely one of the other players who has a little bit more experience should have taken it and tucked it away."

Despite letting Mansfield off the hook with their first half penalty miss, Harriers still deserved a point from the match particularly after putting Keith Curle's men under heavy pressure during the closing stages.

Molby felt none of his players wanted to shoulder any responsibilities during the opening period 'but it was a completely difference story in the second half when we pushed them back'.

He said: "Once we decided to play and match them for work rate then I think easily we were the better side."

Molby said his side should have been full of confidence after a week's recovery from their impressive display against Wolves in the FA Cup at Aggborough.

He added: "But it just seemed to be that the players had decided to come to a place where we are expected to get beaten.

"Of course we are, but that doesn't mean you have to lie down and roll over. More or less that's what we did in the first half, although we could have a goal with the penalty.

"We were slightly better in the second half but over the whole 90 minutes we have to be disappointed because I didn't see Mansfield doing anything to us that made them win the game. We got ourselves beaten and that's disappointing."

Harriers were awarded their penalty in the 23rd minute when Adam Murray was pushed over by Lee Williamson as he attempted to latch on to a cross from Stamps.

Ward eventually took the responsibility to take the spot kick but his tame effort was comfortably saved by 'keeper Kevin Pilkington.

It was a costly miss, particularly when the Stags responded three minutes later with a goal from Day.

His powerful header, following a free kick by Liam Lawrence, flew into the net despite diving 'keeper Stuart Brock managing to get his hand to the ball.

Harriers, now in 19th place in the table but still eight points clear of the relegation zone, put Mansfield under far more pressure after the break with Bennett going close to scoring with a first time volley.

The midfielder, however, wasted a good chance in injury time when he hesitated from hitting a first time shot following a fine through ball by Ward.