Saturday, March 1, 2003

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers' season is in danger of turning into mid-table mediocrity following Saturday's 3-1 defeat against high-riding Scunthorpe United at Aggborough.

The damaging setback knocked Harriers down to 11th place in Nationwide League Division Three and in urgent need of beating Southend United at home tomorrow if they intend to rekindle their play-off hopes.

They are now three points adrift of the play-off zone which Scunthorpe occupy following their first ever league victory at Aggborough. Their two previous visits had ended in a goalless draw and a 1-0 defeat.

Harriers boss Ian Britton was gutted by the outcome which came on the back of his side's 3-0 defeat at Boston United seven days earlier.

He said: "I'm very disappointed. I've said on numerous occasions before we have to pick up points at home but instead we just make it difficult for ourselves. Collectively we don't make it hard enough for sides to beat us.

"We have to work hard for our goals yet we give ours away far too easily. They had five chances and they took three of them. Scunthorpe deserved what they got."

The Iron's heroes were former Everton winger Peter Beagrie who scored twice, including a penalty, and Martin Carruthers who notched his 17th league goal of the season.

Britton said: "They scored a great first goal but we should never had led Beagrie get inside us. They took us apart for the second goal and the third was a definite penalty.

"When we pulled it back to 2-1 I thought we could get something out of the game. We caused them problems when we got the ball in behind them but then we've dallied on the ball and let them off the hook."

Fifth-placed Scunthorpe stunned Harriers by scoring twice within a minute against the run of play.

The first came on 32 minutes when veteran Beagrie cut inside before firing in a deflected shot off the inside of the far post.

Carruthers then made it 2-0 when he knocked in the rebound after keeper Fraser Digby had only half stopped a shot from Matt Sparrow.

Shortly before half time Digby denied Sparrow with an excellent save.

Four minutes after the break leading scorer Bo Henriksen grabbed a lifeline for Kidderminster when he swept in his 18th league goal of the season after the opening had been created by John Melligan.

Scunthorpe, who drew 1-1 at home to Harriers earlier in the season, settled the issue in the 73rd minute when Beagrie scored from the penalty spot after Danny Williams had tripped substitute Andy Parton.