Tuesday, March 17, 2004

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers took another massive step towards Nationwide League Division Three safety with a well earned 2-0 victory over Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park last night.

Goals from Ian Foster and Dean Keates were enough to enable mid-table Harriers to register their fourth win in their last six outings.

It kept them ten points clear of the second-from-bottom relegation spot currently occupied by Macclesfield who visit Aggborough on Saturday.

It was also Harriers first away win since they triumphed 2-1 at Yeovil Town on Boxing Day.

The preparations for their first ever victory at Glanford Park, however, were far from ideal.

Hijack

On the way to the game the team coach broke down and the players were forced to 'hijack' the supporters' coach which was following close behind.

Director of football Jan Molby made three changes from the side which drew 1-1 at Leyton Orient on Saturday with the main surprise being the inclusion of goalkeeper John Danby for his full Football League debut.

Ever-present Stuart Brock was relegated to the subsitutes' bench.

Harriers, who lost 2-0 at home to Scunthorpe earlier in the season, took the lead in the 18th minute.

A shot from Mark Yates was parried by goalkeeper Tom Evans, but Foster reacted quickly to notch his third goal since his recent return to Aggborough.

Nine minutes into the second half Danby pulled off a brilliant point-blank reflex save to deny dangerman Steve Torpey. And within a minute Harriers were 2-0 ahead.

Yates found Keates on the edge of the penalty area who was able to control the ball before volleying a left foot shot over Evans.

Scunthorpe were reduced to ten men on 69 minutes when Kevin Sharp was sent off following a clash with Sean Parrish.

HARRIERS: Danby 7, Hinton 7, Viveash 8, Hatswell 8, Stamps 7, Keates 7 (Christiansen, 71), H Yates 9, Parrish 7, Bennett 7, J. Williams 7, Foster 7 (Rickards, 86), Subs (not used): Brock, Murray, Sall. Attendance: 2,512.

Teams

West Brom Hoult, Haas, Moore, Gaardsoe, Robinson, Koumas (Kinsella 67), Johnson, Gregan (Dyer 52), Clement, Hughes, Horsfield (Facey 45).

Subs Not Used: Murphy, Hulse.

Goals: Hughes 77 pen, Gaardsoe 90.

Wigan Filan, Eaden, De Vos, Breckin, Baines, Liddell (Flynn 84), Jarrett, Bullard, McCulloch, Neil Roberts (Walsh 76), Ellington.

Subs Not Used: Mitchell, Jackson, Farrelly.

Sent Off: Filan (75).

Booked: Jarrett, Neil Roberts, Ellington, McCulloch, Baines.

Goals: Liddell 73 pen.

Att: 26,215

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).