Two-Gallen tanker hits play-off hopes (From Worcester News)

Two-Gallen tanker hits play-off hopes

10:19am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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Luton 3
Harriers 1

AS The Who once sang the ‘Kids are alright’, and this was certainly the case for Harriers on Tuesday, but their play-offs hopes certainly aren’t anymore after a damaging defeat in Bedfordshire.

Defeat to Richard Money’s in-form side ensured that the Aggborough outfit’s hopes of making the end of season promotion party is now only an outside chance.

Harriers slipped one place to 11th and are now 13 points behind fifth-place York, who edge Mansfield 1-0.

This result means what little slack Steve Burr’s troops had going into the end of season run-in has now been pulled tight.

If Harriers are to have a chance of making a late surge up the table they now can’t afford to drop any points and must win all of their games in hand.

Even that might not be enough for them as they are suffering a defensive crisis of confidence, which experienced hitman Kevin Gallen exploited with a devastating brace.

There were positives to come from this game in the shape of the young guns manager Steve Burr threw into the fray at Kenilworth Road.

On-loan Port Vale striker James Lawrie, 19, and midfielder Jack Byrne, 20, making his Harriers debut since his move from Blue Square North neighbours Redditch, both impressed.

Burr was particularly pleased with the tenacious young midfielder, who did not look out of place at Luton.

“I thought Jack did really well. He’s been patiently waiting for his opportunity, it’s unfortunate that he’s cup tied because obviously I was delighted with his performance.

“James Lawrie made his first start for us and took his goal well.

“I thought all round we did reasonably well but the third goal killed us. We’ve given the ball away unopposed, not under pressure or anything, and they've gone and scored and that’s disappointing.

“That's crept in the last couple of games now. It’s bad decision making at times.”

Harriers’ manager made five changes to the side that suffered the 5-1 loss to Stevenage in the FA Trophy semi-final second leg.

Injured duo Gavin Caines and Dean Bennett missed out completely, as did Adam Boyes, while Marcus Bignot and Darryl Knights were relegated to the substitute's bench.

Robbie Matthews was reinstated to the starting line-up, while Lawrie made the most of his first start for the club.

Tom Sharpe was handed his first chance to impress in central defence under Burr’s stewardship, while Marc Goodfellow was reinstated to the starting line-up and Byrne debuted in central midfield.

Harriers took a while to settle and struggled to contain effervescent Luton.

The Hatters were given a cutting edge by wingers Jake Howells and Claude Gnapka, who gave left-back Lee Baker a torrid time.

The hosts could have taken the lead in the 10th minute but top scorer Tom Craddock screwed an effort wide from 10 yards out.

The pressure on Harriers’ finally told in the 23rd minute but there was an element of fortune, when Howells' curling left-wing cross arced past keeper Ross Atkins at the far post and came off the bar to beat the keeper.

Gallen doubled the host’s lead on the half-hour mark when his low 20-yard free-kick slipped through a gap in the wall and beat Atkins.

Harriers looked in danger of collapsing and Gnapka tried his luck with a cheeky 20-yard chip after spotting Atkins of his line but the young keeper did well to take hold of the winger’s effort.

The visitor’s rallied and Northern Ireland under-21 Lawrie, watched by Vale boss Micky Adams, reduced the arrears two minutes later.

Smikle’s cross fell to the young hitman, who cracked a first-time left-footed effort past keeper Mark Tyler.

Captain Chris McPhee almost levelled the scores just before half-time when his fierce first-time drive flew goalwards, only for a diving Tyler to get down smartly and turn it around his left-hand post.

The visitors were unable to build on this rally and the wily Gallen settled the match in the 57th minute. A Harriers attack broke down in midfield and Keith Keane slipped the ball to the former Queens Park Rangers striker, who evaded one challenge and fired a shot beyond Atkins.

Former Harriers hitman Matthew Barnes-Homer, whose father had passed away last week, was given a rousing round of applause by both sets of fans when he replaced Gnapka late on.

Harriers: Atkins 5; Courtney 5; Baker 4; Riley 5; McPhee 6; Goodfellow (Hadley, 84); Smikle 6 (Knights, 71); Sharpe 6; Matthews 6; Lawrie 7; Byrne 8. 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).