MORECAMBE 2 HARRIERS O

AT LAST Kidderminster have a goal between now and the end of the season - to score more regularly, writes Mat Kendrick.

Never mind drifting aimlessly in mid-table, Harriers have something tangible to aim for - those white posts.

Two goals in six games tells its own story and in truth Mark Yates's men never looked like scoring during their limp loss at Morecambe.

Boss Yates has completed part one of his Aggborough masterplan, steering the club to saefty by instilling defensive discipline and making them hard to beat.

It is a philosophy that had resulted in just one defeat in eight games before Saturday's Shrimps setback, which included an out of character blip at the back.

But if Yates is to continue the next stage of Kidderminster's development, namely tempting back the deserters with exciting, winning football, then he needs to unearth a goalscorer.

It was ironic that Harriers' problems in front of goal should be highlighted so vividly at a place called Christie Park.

Because since goal machine Iyseden Christie left six weeks ago, they have failed to pack a punch in attack.

Only midfielder Simon Russell and former loan striker Andy White have notched since Christie's departure and the four players that filled the striking roles at various times on Saturday did little to change that.

Morecambe, meanwhile, had no such problems finding the net, smashing the ball clinically past John Danby from their two clear-cut chances.

Shrimps top scorer Michael Twiss ended his personal goal drought by ramming in the opening goal on 32 minutes to put Sammy McIlroy's play-off hopefuls in front.

The strike owed much to the positive wing play of Garry Thompson who was one of the few players to perform in a game which was a fairly dull advertisement for Conference football.

After scorching to the byline, Thompson caused havoc in the Harriers defence with a low cross which bobbed around the penalty spot before Twiss stabbed in the loose ball.

Kidderminster's back four were also caught flat-footed for Morecambe's clincher four minutes from the end as Twiss released substitute striker Wayne Curtis to bury a fierce shot past Danby.

It could have been different for Harriers had their own top scorer three-goal Gareth Sheldon remembered to bring his shooting boots.

But he fluffed the best chance of the match after dwelling too long on a six-yard tap in from a cross by Lee Thompson, who might have been better advised to go for goal himself.

Manager Yates did try to inject some pace and power into the Harriers attack just after the hour mark with a double substitution replacing Sheldon and Thompson with loan strikers Francino Francis and Cayne Hanley.

But although Francis was tackled just as he was shaping to shoot following a slick move with Terry Fleming and Michael Blackwood, Hanley was unable to make an impact.

From a tilt for the title, a push for the play-offs and then a scrap for survival, Harriers have moved the goalposts throughout the season.

Now they need to remember where they are again.