Gallen brace sinks Harriers (From Worcester News)

Gallen brace sinks Harriers

9:49pm Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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Luton 3
Harriers 1

HARRIERS' slim hopes of making the Blue Square Premier's play-offs were dented as they slipped to defeat at Kenilworth Road.

The Aggborough outfit played their part in an entertaining game but the home side, inspired by veteran striker Kevin Gallen's brace, edged an open encounter.

Defeat to one of their rivals for a top five finish did not kill off their chances of gatecrashing the end of season promotion party but means they cannot afford to drop any more points.

Burr made five changes to the side that lost 5-1 at home to Stevenage Borough in the first leg of the FA Trophy.

With Dean Bennett and Gavin Caines out through injury, Tom Sharpe was drafted into central defence, while Jack Byrne was handed his debut in central midfield.

Adam Boyes was also out of the squad, which saw Robbie Matthews reinstated to the forward line alongside on-loan Port Vale hitman James Lawrie, who was also making his first start for Harriers.

Burton winger Marc Goodfellow was also restored to the side, while Darryl Knights and Marcus Bignot were dropped to the bench.

The visitors had to endure a shaky start and defended two corners inside the first two minutes.

Harriers should have behind in the 10th minute but were thankful for woeful finishing by Tom Craddock.

The Hatters' top scorer had raced down the right wing onto Jake Howells' slide rule pass and left Lee Baker for dead in the box with some tricky footwork but from 10-yards out he screwed his effort horribly wide.

The home side continued to probe, with Simon Heslop firing over from the the edge of the box after a driving run and Luton got their reward for a bright start with a 23rd minute strike.

Harriers had repelled a Luton advance when Howells got the ball on the left and delivered a curling cross that evaded keeper Ross Atkins at the far post.

The away side were 2-0 down on the half hour mark when veteran hitman Gallen, who had came close moments earlier, fired a low 20-yard free-kick through Harriers' wall that caught out Atkins.

Northern Ireland under-21 international Lawrie got Harriers back in the game in the 33rd minute when his first-time effort from the edge of the box beat keeper Martin Tyler.

Hatters defender Janos Kovacs could have left Harriers trailing by two goals again but headed wide at a corner.

Lawrie showed good skill to control a high ball and lashed an effort just off target.

Moments later, Harriers skipper Chris McPhee fired a first-time 20-yard effort goalwards and force a fine diving save by Tyler.

But the away side found themselves 3-1 down 11 minutes into the second half when Gallen rifled a shot into the back of the net.

Harriers went all out for a goal. Matthews stung Tyler's palms with a firm free-kick which was straight at him.

Moments later, Lawrie forced a decent save from the Hatters' shot-stopper after good work by Smikle to beat Ed Asafu-Adjaye in the air.

Darryl Knights replaced Smikle in the 71st minute after he was injured by Fred Murrary, who was shown a yellow card for his efforts.

But it was Luton who looked the more likely to score in the game's final few minutes.

Former Harriers hitman Matthew Barnes-Homer, whose father passed away last week, was given a rousing round of applause by both sets of fans when he replaced impressive winger Claude Gnapka in the 84th minute.

Gallen could have completed his hat-trick in the 90th minute but his rising free-kick flew over the bar.

Matthews almost pulled a goal back late on but headed wide from the far post as Harriers slipped to their first league defeat since December.

Harriers: Atkins; Courtney; Baker; Riley; McPhee; Goodfellow (Hadley, 84); Smikle (Knights, 71); Sharpe; Matthews; Lawrie; Byrne.

Unused substitutes: Singh; Hayward; Bignot.

Luton: Tyler; Asafu-Adjaye; Keane (hall, 87); Kovacs; Pilkington; Craddock; Howells; Gnapka (Barnes-Homer, 84); Gallen; Murray; Heslop.

Unused substitutes: Blackett; Gore; Jarvis.
Referee: David H Coote. Attendance: 5,908 (79)