FURIOUS Kidderminster Harriers boss Gary Whild threatened to wield the axe after watching his side lose 1-0 to Altrincham and crash out of the FA Trophy.

Harriers were shot down by Damian Reeves’ 20th-minute strike in the second round as they suffered a third successive defeat at Aggborough.

They conceded after an error by debutant Nathaniel Kelly, who signed on loan from Birmingham City the day before.

Forward Craig Reid fired a penalty over the bar in the 41st minute and Kidderminster peppered the goal only for keeper Stuart Coburn to deny Akwasi Asante, Keyon Reffell and Kevin Nicholson.

But Whild was critical of some of his senior players after a slow start.

He said: “Jamie Spencer, Jordan Tunnicliffe, Akwasi and Keyon have come into this club and are not on big wages. They are hungry to do well and, if I am being honest, are being paid peanuts.

“They are running around like lunatics trying to bust a gut and I don’t see that with some of the others.

“If we are to push on, we need to go down that road and liven things up a bit.”

Harriers suffered a setback when on-song winger Marvin Johnson was taken off with a hip injury in the first-half.

But his replacement Reffell shone, while Asante also produced an encouraging display despite not taking Harriers’ best chance.

“After a few words at half-time, we raised the tempo, got a few crosses in and made their keeper work but I am sick of having to do that,” Whild said.

“It was the same at Dartford and a few times other times. We have lost three games on the trot at home, which is a big disappointment.”

Whild sympathised with Kelly after his error and added: “He improved as the game went on and I am disappointed one long ball has beaten my back four.”

Harriers: Lewis, Hodgkiss, Storer, Kelly, Byrne, Johnson (Reffell 37), Reid (Styche 55), Grimes, Gittings, Nicholson, Asante. Subs not used: Green, Digie, Obeng.
Attendance: 1,204.