Friday, April 14, 2006

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers staged a battling second-half fightback but it was not enough to avoid Conference defeat at Canvey Island.

The one bright spot for the Aggborough club was the form of striker Luke Reynolds who notched his second goal in successive games and his third since joining Harriers from Market Drayton.

Mark Yates' side were on the back-foot inside the first minute of the match, however, when Dwayne Clarke was given too much time to fire the ball past Harriers goalkeeper Danny Lewis.

Kidderminster hit back and defender Gavin Hurren had a header saved on the line, while Reynolds and Michael McGrath also went close to grabbing an equaliser.

But Harriers were caught with another sucker punch on the stroke of half-time. A lapse in concentration allowed Jason Hallett to volley home Mario Noto's cross and give Canvey Island a 2-0 lead at the interval.

Yates made attacking substitutions for the second-half, with Ashley Walker and McGrath making way for Gareth Sheldon and Tom Byrne.

The changes allowed Harriers to have their fair share of possession, but it was Canvey who went closest to adding to their lead when Noto had two good efforts savwed by the ever-alert Lewis.

The Kidderminster pressure finally paid off in the 72nd minute, however, when Reynolds was on hand to crash the ball home from 12 yards after good build-up play by the Worcestershire club.

Canvey were then forced to back-track for the remainder of the game, but they managed to keep Harriers at bay.

They almost made the match safe just before the end when substitute Lee Boylan rocketed a free-kick just over the Kidderminster bar.

Reynolds came closest to grabbing a Harriers equaliser when he flashed his shot just wide in the third minute of injury-time.

Harriers: Lewis, Sedgemore, Hurren, Rea, Harkness, Walker (45 Sheldon), Penn, Fleming, McGrath (45 Byrne), Reynolds, Newby (73 Thompson). Subs (not used): Danby, Howarth.

Attendance: 621.