Monday, August 29, 2005

LOAN man Taiwo Atieno gave Kidderminster Harriers an injury scare after opening the scoring in Kidderminster Harriers' 2-0 win at Cambridge United.

Harriers rarely sparkled at the Abbey Stadium but battled away with a faultless defensive display to seal a satisfying Nationwide Conference success for boss Stuart Watkiss.

Atieno nodded Harriers ahead on 74 minutes from Wayne Hatswell's cross -- a similar goal to the opening-day winner against Woking -- and then Gareth Sheldon fired in the second four minutes from time.

But Atieno left the action on a stretcher after injuring his ankle and although able to walk following the game, he may now be a doubt for Friday's visit of Canvey Island.

Fellow striker Iyseden Christie also left the action yesterday with a tight calf muscle but midfielder Simon Heslop impressed on his full debut.

The victory -- Harriers' second in their first five games which have only produced one defeat -- propelled Watkiss' men into the top eight.

He said: "We did the ugly side of the game a lot better than we have done. We picked up a lot of second ball in midfield, the full-backs stopped the crosses from coming in and John Danby only really had one save to make in the 90 minutes.

"When it got to the last third, it fizzled out because we gave the ball up cheaply and picked the wrong options.

"But we said at half-time to carry on defending the way we had and just try to get behind their back four more than we had.

"Probably out of all the games so far, it was the most even and the most ugly but, in a lot of ways, the most satisfying."

In a forgettable first-half, Harriers only really sparked into attacking life on 37 minutes when Simon Russell's piledriver was tipped over by goalkeeper Darren Behcet.

Danby was not troubled by David Bridges' header and Jonny Harkness' drive that both flashed wide, while centre-halves Mark Jackson and Daryl Burgess dealt well with big Folawiyo Onibuje.

There were few chances but Atieno buried the one he did have, planting home a towering free header from left-back Hatswell's teasing cross.

And, late on, midfielder Terry Fleming broke away to split the defence, allowing substitute Sheldon to ram his first Harriers goal over the line via the crossbar from the edge of the box.

It ensured a first home defeat of the season for Cambridge who were relegated with Harriers last season.

HARRIERS: Danby; Evans, Jackson, Burgess, Hatswell; Russell, Fleming, O'Connor (Wilson 83), Heslop; Christie (Sheldon 71), Atieno (Thompson 78). Subs not used: Burton, Lewis. ATTENDANCE: 3,161.