Saturday, December 18, 2004

NEW boss Stuart Watkiss refused to be downhearted by Kidderminster Harriers' 2-0 Coca-Cola League Two defeat at Cheltenham Town on Saturday.

Although the disappointing setback left his side two points adrift at the foot of the table, he is convinced they can go into the busy Christmas and New Year programme in an optimistic mood.

Watkiss said: "We've now got a tough little run. But I've been around this standard long enough to know that if your team comes out and they're up for it and they're closing down and backing each other up then you've got an opportunity to turn any team over.

"On the flip side if you're not quite at it you'll get turned over yourselves. I was told too many times this season that Kidderminster have had differing performances in different halves. They've performed well for 45 minutes and not been able to sustain it or they've taken 45 minutes to get going.

"In the first-half on Saturday I honestly thought we were excellent. I couldn't have been more pleased with them, but second-half we made it a little bit too easy for Cheltenham."

Kidderminster, without an away league win so far this season, looked more than capable of picking up a least a point during their first-half performance, but then allowed the Robins to dictate after the break.

Cheltenham broke the deadlock with a controversial goal and then sealed victory with a deflected effort in stoppage time.

Sandwiched in between was a sending off for Kidderminster skipper Wayne Hatswell who received a red card for a professional foul on Damian Spencer.

Although Watkiss accepted that it was a sending-off offence, he was bitterly disappointed by the passage of play which led to the red card incident.

Newcomer Johnny Mullins was lying on the ground injured but Martin Devaney didn't hear his manager John Ward's instruction to kick the ball out.

Instead, he played it through to Spencer and he was promptly floored by Hatswell who was given his marching orders for the second time this season.

Watkiss said: "I think it was actually a sending off, but it's what preceded that. I think everyone stopped having seen a player down injured and to be fair to the Cheltenham bench they were trying to get the player to kick it out. But he said he didn't hear that and played it forward."

Cheltenham had gone ahead on 53 minutes with a header from former Hereford United striker Steve Guinan.

Their second goal was the product of a wickedly deflected shot by Grant McCann which wrong-footed 'keeper Ryan Clarke after it hit Tom Bennett.

Although disappointed by the outcome, Harriers can take heart from their first-half display which deserved a goal.

On two occasions they were thwarted by excellent saves from keeper Shane Higgs who pushed away a Pedro Matias header and then managed to get his foot in the way of a powerful ground-shot from newcomer Gary Birch.

Harriers: Clarke 6; Mullins 6, Weaver 6, Hatswell 6, Beswetherwick 5; Jenkins 5 (Foster 77), Bennett 5, Keates 6; Russell 6; *Birch 7, Matias 6 (Beardsley 68, 5). Subs not used: McHale, Gleeson, Lewis.

Referee: D Drysdale (Lincolnshire).

Attendance: 3,718.