Constable sent off as Harriers crash to defeat (From Worcester News)

Constable sent off as Harriers crash to defeat

1:30pm Sunday 25th November 2007 in News

Kidderminster Harriers 0
Oxford United 2

STRIKER James Constable was sent off as Harriers crashed to a damaging home defeat to Oxford in the Blue Square Premier at Aggborough on Saturday.

Harriers were punished for their lack of cutting edge in a bad-tempered affair, where Constable and Oxford midfielder Carl Peteffer were sent off in the first half.

Harriers had went into the game with almost a full strength side, with manager Mark Yates selecting first choice goalkeeper Scott Bevan and winger Simon Russell after length injury absences.

But Harriers' plans were disrupted in the eighth minute when midfielder Gavin Hurren was fouled by Eddie Hutchinson when the duo challenged for a high ball. The industrious player walked off the pitch with a bad cut above his eye and needed six stitches to stem the flow of blood.

Despite the set back Harriers were the better side and were unlucky not to open the score in the 25th minute. Russell sent in a pin-point cross from the right that Justin Richards got a thumping header too, but the ball crashed off the underside of the bar and away to safety for Oxford.

The home side were stunned in the 31st minute when striker Matt Green, on a month's loan from Cardiff City, grabbed a goal on his debut.

Yemi Odubade headed Eddie Anaclett's cross back into Green's path and while his first effort was driven into the ground, he was quick enough to prod the rebound beyond on-rushing keeper Scott Bevan.

But worse was to come for Harriers when Constable was shown a straight red card in the 32nd minute for an off the ball incident with rookie right back James Clarke.

Harriers tried to fight back and had a good call for a penalty ignored in the 41st minute when Michael Blackwood was scythed down in the box by Oxford captain Barry Quinn.

Referee Oliver Langford then sent off Pettefer for a studs-up challenge on midfielder Michael McGrath in the 43rd minute.

Yates made the bold move to replace right back Paul Bignot with striker Matthew Barnes-Homer at half-time and Harriers pushed for a leveller.

But for all their pressure the home side could not find the killer pass to open up Oxford.

They were punished for their inability to score in the 65th minute when substitute Ashley Barnes, who made his debut after joining on-loan from Plymouth Argyle, headed in Alex Jeanin's free-kick.

Shell-shocked Harriers took a while to get over the goal and it wasn't until the final 15 minutes that they threatened Oxford.

Midfielder Andy Ferrell saw his low 20-yard effort spilled by keeper Billy Turley, but as Richards rushed in to pounce on the loose ball, Quinn made a timely block to deny the hitman.

Substitute Iyseden Christie had a chance to pull back a consolation goal in the 91st minute, when he latched onto Gary Twigg's poor pass back and rounded Turley, but Quinn rushed back to clear the striker's shot from the danger zone.

Harriers: Bevan 6, Hurren (McGrath, 15, 6 (Christie, 72mins), Creighton 6, Whitehead 7, Russell 6, Constable, Richards 6, Penn 6, Blackwood 6, Ferrell 7, Bignot 5 (Barnes-Homer, 45mins).

Oxford: Turley; Clarke; Quinn; Foster; Jeanin; Anaclett (Wilmott, 81mins); Pettefer; Trainer; Odubade (Barnes, 51mins); Green (Twigg, 58mins).

Referee: Oliver Langford (Staff). Attendance: 2,025