Saturday, April 16, 2005

IF only Kidderminster Harriers could have recreated their high-tempo last 10 minutes against Yeovil more often this season.

This is the stage of the campaign where 'if onlys' are all too common for teams chasing promotion or scrapping against relegation as Harriers are.

And, with the club on the brink of ending their five-year Football League stay, whatever should or should not have been done is likely to haunt them throughout the summer.

Saturday was yet another game there for the taking as Harriers did a good job stifling Coca-Cola League Two leaders Yeovil but ultimately left their attacking rally far too late.

Yeovil's Aaron Davies sneaked through to give the visitors an undeserved lead on 61 minutes following a sloppy pass from the previously impressive John McGrath.

The introduction of Mark Rawle eventually led to a sterling Harriers fight-back but he could not match his terrific 84th-minute finish when on the spot for two great chances later on.

The point leaves Harriers effectively seven points behind Rushden and Diamonds, due to goal difference, with just three games left after the Northamptonshire side's 4-2 beating of Boston United.

And Watkiss admitted: "It is going to have to be the escape of all escapes now. Certainly, the only way we can stay alive is to go to Boston on Saturday and win. Rushden really need three points for survival but they've got a tough trip to Darlington.

"We certainly had the chances against Yeovil in the last 10 minutes to win a couple of games. There were two or three great saves from the 'keeper and missed chances.

"Normally, you'd be pleased with a result like that but, with Rushden winning again, we are now staring down both barrels of a shotgun.

"But we're not dead yet. You may say we're severely wounded but we've got to pick ourselves up, prepare the best we can and try to get the three points at Boston."

An instantly forgettable first-half had surprisingly started in hot-headed fashion with a dust-up between the two sides on four minutes.

Harriers reacted angrily to Yeovil's failure to give the ball back to them after an injury but referee Richard Beeby just booked the one player - the hosts' midfielder McGrath.

Johnny Mullins hobbled off with a hamstring injury but his replacement Wayne Hatswell slotted in well to the centre of defence.

But, in the second-half, wide midfielder Davies shook off several weak challenges to burst through the middle and calmly beat John Danby with a low finish to send more than 1,500 Yeovil fans delirious.

Rawle and fellow sub Simon Russell added an extra attacking dimension to a Harriers side who had previously been pretty toothless and set up an enthralling finale. The striker's third goal in five games was an excellent left-foot volley into the corner of the net from Blair Sturrock's flick-on.

But, with just five minutes left, Rawle slipped while trying to finish off a sitter after Simon Weaver's header hit the post and he spooned the ball high over the bar. Moments later, he escaped from the defence onto Keates' perfect pass but was denied by the advancing Collis' block.

As the game headed into stoppage time, Collis tipped over a Hatswell header from Jones' corner and then blocked Russell's firm near-post shot following another flag-kick.

Harriers: Danby 6; Weaver 6, *Jackson 8, Mullins 6 (Hatswell 32, 7), Jones 7; Cozic 5, Bennett 6, Keates 7; McGrath 6 (Russell 75); Sturrock 6, Beardsley 5 (Rawle 68, 7). Subs not used: Jenkins, Sall. Attendance: 4,014.