HARRIERS were yet again hit with the late, late show as they conceded in the final minute to succumb to defeat at Boston United.

As has so often been the case this season, Harriers were dealt a pre-match blow in their quest to name an unchanged side after a win – Joel Taylor ruled out through illness late on, with Sam Austin brought in at full-back to replace him.

There was a little bit of good news as well, however – after a few weeks out, Elton Ngwatala was given the green light to return to the squad after a knee injury; he took his place among the day’s substitutes.

It started very positively for Harriers – skipper Ryan Croasdale had them on the front foot and only narrowly fired over the bar at the tip of a good passing move, before a sweeping corner from Declan Weeks found the head of Dan Bradley who nodded the latest in a recent flurry of goals for him personally.

Bardon Hall was the busier goalkeeper in the first half, however, and he kept his team in front shortly after the goal by turning a Thompson effort around the post after closing down the angle. Just six minutes later, though, there was little Hall could do as Jordan Keane reacted quickest to a corner to turn the ball into the far corner with the aid of a deflection.

Seven minutes later the turnaround for the home side was complete, a dangerously-angled free-kick just wasn’t dealt with by the visiting defence and as a frenzy ensued to hack at the ball from close-range, Middleton’s touch was the decisive one as he nudged it into the back of the net.

With the lead in tact at the break, Boston ought to have added to it before the hour mark when efforts from Hemmings, a shot well held, and Coulter, an attempt over the bar, went close. Barely eight minutes later, frustration looked to have got the better of Vaughan as he went in hard on Hemmings to earn himself a straight red card.

From the resultant free-kick, only Pearson’s timely intervention kept Clifton from adding to the score – tellingly so for Harriers as they went up the other end and netted against the run of play soon after. Ironside’s shot was blocked into the path of Croasdale who was also spurned – the loose ball falling to sub Waring at the far post as he tucked it into the net.

Harriers tried to hold out for a point but with added time looming large, the hosts stole all three as the standout Hemmings delivered the deadly delivery toward the post where Wufula was on hand to hurl himself at it and nod the ball home.

Harriers: Hall, L Vaughan, Austin, Pearson, Horsfall, Croasdale, McQuilkin, Weeks, Sonupé (Waring 69), Ironside, Bradley.

Subs: N Vaughan, Brown, Ngwatala, Digie.

Attendance: 1,158 Referee: Anthony Tankard