Saturday, September 27, 2003

IAN Britton's plan to keep the lid on Hull's attack backfired spectacularly.

A late goal rush condemned Harriers to the biggest defeat of their league history and to a record equalling eighth game without a win.

The Harriers' manager, who said he would settle for a draw at the KC Stadium, hoped at the end that this was rock bottom for his side.

In a play-safe move, he fielded only John Williams up front and watched his five-man midfield hog possession for most of the first half.

There was no panic after Ben Burgess's scrappy early goal for Hull, andHarriers were duly rewarded midway through the half when John Williams coolly scored his first for the club after a mistake left him one on one with keeper Paul Musselwhite.

Robert Betts, Graham Ward and Danny Williams passed confidently across the KC Stadium's lush surface and denied Hull possession. Occasionally, Dean Bennett and Lloyd Dyer threatened down the flanks.

But overall there was little to worry the

Hull defence, although Bennett almost put Harriers ahead with a diving header just wide from Dyer's cross.

Hull struck again after 44 minutes when Scott Stamps won a header against Burgess, only for the ball to loop to Danny Allsopp, who shot home from 10 yards.

It was a bad blow for the Harriers who did not deserve to be behind.

Hull manager Peter Taylor conceded: "Kidderminster made it very hard for us in the first half and their manager's plan certainly worked.

"There were a lot of bodies in midfield so we couldn't really play through there and we had too play long or too many square balls at the back.

"So it was hard to play against them but we have lots of players who can score goals and all of a sudden we found ourselves 2-1 up."

Harriers continued to stick to their plan afterwards in the hope of scoring on the breakaway. There were quickfire corners for Danny Williams and Graham Ward but no threat.

And the game was up after nearly an hour when Hull left-back Andy Dawson surprised Stuart Brock with a sensational goal hit on the half volley from the faintly visible rugby league 30m line on the dual code pitch.

Craig Hinton, who had been booked in the first half for a wild tackle on Justin Price, got plenty of yards into a clearing header and no one expected Dawson to have a crack from that distance.

It sent confidence surging through the Hull team and completely deflated Harriers.

'By this time title favourites Hull were in carnival mood and threatening to score every time.

A piece of magic from Burgess opened the floodgates when he took the ball on his chest with his back to goal and beat Brock with an overhead kick.

Ryan France then poked in the fifth on his debut and Stuart Green hit the sixth with an injury time free kick.

It was a devastating result for Harriers but perhaps even more so for Britton whose job is under increasing pressure.

quotes

Ian Britton was scathing about his sides late collapse.

"Ive known for some time that we have a soft underbelly and a result like

this has been coming," he said.

OEIve been unhappy about our performances in the last 10 games of last

season and now the first 10 games of this.

"We were a total, utter embarrassment in the last half hour. I felt sorry

for the fans having to watch it. Hopefully, weve reached the depths and

cant go down any further."

Despite being 2-1 down at the interval, the bulk of Harriers performance

encouraged Britton.

"For the first hour I thought we were the better side. We worked together

very hard and had more possession than Hull."

Britton also thought two of Hulls goals were debatable the first by Ben

Burgess which Stuart Brock OEsaved but was ruled to be over the line, and

the fifth by Ryan France, when he claimed a push on a defender.

Britton admitted to his job being under pressure, but said: "Anyone taking

over from me will face the same problems.

"I cant be on the pitch heading and kicking the ball. Some of our players

including the seasoned pros need to look at themselves."