Harriers lose their sparkle with Rushden and Diamonds defeat (From Worcester News)

Harriers lose their sparkle with Rushden and Diamonds defeat

6:09pm Monday 28th December 2009

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BATTLING Harriers could not find a leveller as they were shot down by Lee Tomlin’s brace at Nene Park.

Tomlin pounced on an error by goalkeeper Dean Coleman in the first-half, before a block-busting effort after the break doubled Rushden’s lead.

However, Harriers produced a spirited fight back, inspired by Robbie Matthews’ 67th-minute strike.

Despite late pressure, they could not find a goal and slipped to their first league loss to Rushden and Diamonds since January 2003.

Coleman was called into action inside the first minute when he comfortably dived down to save Tomlin’s shot from the edge of the box.

Striker Aaron Farrell, still waiting for his first senior Harriers goal, raced down the left wing after good work by Brian Smikle and Matthews but keeper Dale Roberts was equal to his firm low effort in the fourth minute.

An error by Coleman gifted Tomlin the game’s opening goal in the 16th minute. The shot-stopper rushed out of his penalty area to collect a long ball but spilled it into the path of the home striker, who made no mistake. The keeper was also lucky to escape a booking after his handling of the ball out of his box.

Coleman made up for his error when he got down well to parry Farrell’s stinging low shot.

Farrell should have hit the target in the 36th minute after Harriers’ defence was carved open by Kurt Robinson, but the striker's mis-hit effort fell to Coleman. The visiting shot-stopper continued to atone for his earlier sin when he did well to get behind midfielder Mark Byrne’s fierce 20-yard effort.

The away side fell 2-0 down in the 56th minute when Tomlin gave Coleman no chance with a fine effort from the edge of the box, which flew into the top right corner.

Matthews grabbed a lifeline for Harriers in the 67th minute. Martin Riley made a rare foray forward and slipped the ball to the hitman, who swivelled smartly and scored with a low effort.

Harriers pushed for a leveller and it took a sliding clearance by Paul Terry to clear Andrews’ shot in the 78th minute.

But for all of Harriers’ pressure they could not find a way through and ended a turbulent 2009 with a defeat.

Harriers: Coleman, Courtney, Riley, Caines, Andrew, Smikle, Bennett, McPhee, Knights, Farrell (Spencer, 46); Matthews. Not used: Singh; Dolman; Baker; Hayward.

Referee: James Adcock (Nottinghamshire).

Attendance: 1,425.

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