Saturday, April 30, 2000

NEVER has a Kidderminster Harriers side been cheered so loudly by their fans after losing!

That was the case at Woking when, despite suffering a 1-0 defeat, they clinched the Nationwide Conference title and promotion to the Third Division.

The celebrations began once it was confirmed that their only championship rivals Rushden & Diamonds were unable to catch Harriers after being held to a 0-0 draw at home to Scarborough.

Delighted Molby cracked open a bottle of champagne and said: "We would loved to have finished it off with a win at Woking, but we were always going to be champions.

"The fans were great. Sometimes it's difficult clinching the championship without actually winning the match, but we have forgotten about the result already. It was important for Woking, but it's not important to us and never will be.

"People who have watched us all season know we can play better, but you can't play to your maximum every week and sometimes you have got to give credit to the opposition."

Around 1,000 Kidderminster fans helped make up Woking's biggest gate of the season -- 3,210 -- and they certainly made their presence felt by cheering their heads off throughout a match which ended in Molby's heroes losing only their second match in 24 league outings.

It also halted a storming run of six Conference victories on the trot.

Woking, who needed the points to aid their fight against relegation, scored the all-important goal in the 20th minute, Scott Steele lashing in a penalty after Adie Smith had brought down after Matt Hayfield.

After that Harriers, who suffered injuries to Neil Midgley, Paul Webb and substitute Mark Druce, went close to equalising, but determined Woking deservedly pocketed the points.

Molby said: "It's been a long hard season. We had one or two hurdles to overcome, mainly the bad start and the inconsistency we showed early on.

"But we've overcome all that and I believe it's a fair reflection on of the Conference. I think the best side has won it."

Molby was also quick to turn his thoughts towards what will be in store for his side next season.

"The majority of teams that have got promoted in the 1990s have conducted themselves very well.

"Cheltenham are there or thereabouts regarding the play-offs. Macclesfield and Wycombe have also done well so I see no reason why we shouldn't.

"Obviously we need to strengthen in one or two positions because we are going to lose players, but come August we'll be ready.

"This has been a massive achievement considering what the club has gone through in the last couple of years. We have turned everything around and we fully deserve it and, of course, it's a great achievement for me.

"It's no good denying it. Apart from getting promoted from the First Division to the Premier League I think this is the biggest promotion there is in football."

During the noisy celebrations that followed at Woking, Molby had difficulty in hearing a telephone call from Harriers millionaire chairman Lionel Newton who was on holiday in Portugal.

"He just wanted to congratulate us. He's an ambitious man and now he's got his Football League club."

Captain Mike Marsh, who cannot play for Harriers in the Football League having received compensation for a knee injury, said: "I've had my career in football and this is a bonus.

"I would like to have gone into the League with them but equally I'm delighted we have won the Conference and now my signature is up for grabs.

"I know I can't go full time because my knees won't take it."

Kidderminster's former Birmingham City captain Ian Clarkson said: "The result went against us at Woking but we have won the league with three matches to go.

"We did all the hard work in the previous six games which we won on the bounce. You always want to win at football and we have been the best team by quite a long way.

"I don't see any reason why the club shouldn't do well in the Third Division if they stick to the principles which, with Jan in charge, they will do."