Stevenage Borough 0 Kidderminster Harriers 0 (5-1 on aggregate) (From Worcester News)

Stevenage Borough 0 Kidderminster Harriers 0 (5-1 on aggregate)

5:30pm Sunday 21st March 2010 in

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HARRIERS manager Steve Burr believes his players must follow Stevenage’s example after he watched them restore some pride with a 0-0 draw at Broadhall Wall in the FA Trophy semi-final second leg.

The Aggborough side produced a much-improved performance in Hertfordshire compared to last Saturday’s 5-1 home defeat.

While they could not overturn such a big scoreline or win the game, they did more than match the hosts, who boast a formidable record on their own ground.

“I think obviously you’ve got to look at the benchmark that Stevenage have set,” the Harriers’ manager. “Congratulations to them for getting through.

“I think Stevenage saw more of the real Kidderminster that I’ve come to see over the last month.

“The tie was always going to be difficult after last week.

“Our aims were to win the game and show Stevenage that wasn’t us, but they obviously took their chances and deservedly made it through to the final.

“We had a number of opportunities to score in the first-half and a few more after the break.

“I just said to the lads ‘let’s go out and win the game’ and it was of those games that to concede early would have been disastous.

“This is a place where they haven’t lost in two years, they score a lot of goals and they’re strong all round.”

Harriers keeper Ross Atkins was in excellent form for the Aggborough outfit, producing three top saves to deny David Bridges, Stacy Long and Mitchell Cole. Another on-loan player, James Lawrie, was also lively and forced a good save from Boro shot-stopper Chris Day.

Both players’ loans have come to an end and Harriers’ manager will have to assess whether he can keep them any longer.

Burr said: “I wanted to see what happened during the game and now I’ll assess them today.

“With Ross, there’s no problem with Derby.

“Our other keeper is still out so that won’t be a problem.

“I’ve spoken to (Port Vale manager) Micky Adams and I’m already hoping that we can sort out Jamie Lawrie’s loan as well.”

Harriers: Atkins, Courtney, Baker, Riley, Sharpe, McPhee, Sharpe, Bennett, Knights, Smikle, Matthews, Lawrie. Unused substitutes: Singh, Bignot, Caines, Boyes, Hadley.

Stevenage: Day, Laird, Ashton, Murphy (Byrom, 71), Long, Odubade, Roberts, Bridges (Albrighton, 82), Beardsley, Drury (Cole, 60), Henry. Unused substitutes: Bayes, Sills.

Referee: Fred Graham.

Attendance: 1,622 (98).