Saturday, October 12, 2002

BOSS Ian Britton admitted that Kidderminster Harriers had come back down to earth with a 'big bump' after losing 2-0 to Macclesfield Town in Saturday's Nationwide League Division Three clash at Aggborough.

The disappointing setback ended Harriers un-beaten run of nine league matches and left them to taste defeat at home for the first time.

To add to their misery they were back down to their usual hardcore support after a bumper gate of 3,787 for the previous Saturday's clash against Hull City.

That figure plunged to 2,521 -- 217 being travelling fans -- to watch the Silkmen clinch victory with goals from Michael Welch and David Eaton.

It was below-par Harriers first league defeat since losing 3-1 at Rushden on August 17 and denied them the chance of moving into the play-off zone.

Instead, they slipped from eighth to 11th but can have no complaints about the defeat which could easily have been by a wider margin.

Afterwards, Britton accused his players of under estimating the task they faced against their former Conference rivals.

He said: "We had players who have just come to the game thinking all they have got to do is go out on the pitch and everything is going to be alright.

"They thought it would take care of itself but they have come down with a big bump.

"The reason we have done well in the league so far is because we have worked hard, shown a lot of commitment and desire and none of those things were evident against Macclesfield. I've got no complaints about the score. To be honest it could have been embarrassing, it could have been more."

Kidderminster missed the physical presence up front of suspended striker Drewe Broughton and Britton admitted: "We huffed and puffed around their goal, but Macclesfield defended well.."

Kidderminster, who handed a debut to on-loan defender Kenny Coleman from Wolves, fell behind in the 31st minute when Danny Whitaker tapped a free- kick to Welch who beat goalkeeper Stuart Brock with a 20 yard shot through Harriers' defensive 'wall'.

Broughton's replacement Ian Foster fluffed a good chance in the early stages of the second-half before the Silkmen wrapped up the points in the 71st minute. Eaton scored with a diving header following a pin-point cross from Kyle Lightbourne.

Debut boy Eaton had only been on the pitch for a minute after coming on as a substitute for Matthew Tipton.