Saturday, March 4, 2006

MARK Yates refused to criticise Lee Thompson following his penalty blunder at chilly Lawn Stadium.

Striker Thompson squandered the 52nd-minute spot-kick -- easily Kidderminster Harriers' best scoring chance in a largely forgettable goalless draw -- with former Aggborough goalkeeper Ryan Clarke punching away his tame effort.

Forest Green Rovers felt justice had been served, with referee Graham Scott awarding the dubious penalty when Michael Taylor was adjudged to have fouled Andy White.

Thompson was spared blame from Yates for not securing three points, but the Harriers manager acknowledged that a new penalty taker may be needed in future.

"I haven't got a problem with people missing penalties," said Yates. "At least he was brave enough to take it, but I don't know if he will be taking any more."

John Danby was called into action following Thompson's miss to preserve a point for the Aggborough men, but Yates believes a draw was fair.

He said: "I thought we created more of a goal threat in the first-half, but they came into it in the last 25 minutes and had one or two half-chances."

Despite a shortage of entertainment for Kidderminster's travelling army of supporters that made the short trip to Gloucestershire, they will be pleased that Harriers continue to prove hard to break down with Yates in charge.

Harriers have kept three clean sheets in five games and suffered just one defeat in eight league outings.

Very little split the two sides during a tepid first-half, although the visitors enjoyed good spells of possession and rarely looked in trouble.

Johnny Harkness sent two poor efforts over the crossbar, while Paul Wanless and former Harriers defender Abdou Sall went close for Rovers.

Zema Abbey's bullet header was denied just moments into the second-half, before Harriers earned their huge slice of luck.

Scott pointed to the penalty spot after Taylor collided with White, despite no serious appeal from the Harriers man.

Thompson ran confidently to bury the spot-kick, but struck it poorly, allowing Clarke to palm away and then tip over Russell's follow-up shot.

Harriers proceeded to string together nice moves, with Russell showing good footwork on a difficult surface, but it was the hosts producing the better chances.

On the hour-mark, Danby acrobatically saved Abbey's superb low volley, while another one-on-one effort from the former Norwich City striker went wide of the upright.

Harriers stormed back, Gareth Sheldon's diving header from Michael Blackwood's pin-point cross requiring a full-stretch stop from Clarke

In the dying minutes when Rovers stormed forward for a winner, Barry O'Connell burst past Jonny Mullins in the Harriers penalty box and centred for Alex Meechan to blaze over.

HARRIERS: Danby, Harkness, Burgess, Hurren, Mullins, Sedgemore, Sheldon (Francis 86), Russell, Penn (Wilson 79), White, Thompson (Blackwood 62). Subs (not used): Lewis, Osborne.

ATTENDANCE: 1,033.