Scunthorpe 2 Harriers 1

Mat Kendrick reports

from Glanford Park

NEVERMIND the mumps, there's something much more infectious spreading around the Harriers dressing room - it's called optimism.

Despite a late lapse leaving them with nothing from their trip to Glanford Park, the mood among Stuart Watkiss's men was upbeat.

The fear factor that characterised pre-Watkiss Harriers has been replaced by a steely determination to survive.

All it needs now is for the Harriers boss to address the ongoing problem of his players switching off and Harriers will have free-falling Rushden well and truly in their sights.

Despite their preparations being disrupted by illness, injury and suspensions Harriers can take great pride in giving their high-flying hosts a run for their money.

Sadly it is points rather than plaudits that matter and Harriers must now start turning positive performances into tangible results.

Considering the problems they experienced before hand, Kidderminster could have been forgiven for adopting a "you win some, you lose some" attitude.

The fact that they didn't and were disappointed not to have held third-placed Scunthorpe to a draw is testament to the strides they have made under Watkiss.

As expected, Harriers were forced to soak up a fair amount of pressure and Scunthorpe fired several warning shots before they opened the scoring on 20 minutes.

Jon Walters could have put them in front in the first minute had he directed his lob on target from Steve Torpey's flick on, while Torpey himself came close from a Peter Beagrie cross.

Beagrie was unsurprisingly involved in the breakthrough goal when he swung over a free kick which Andy Butler headed into Ian Baraclough's path for a simple finish which had more than a hint of offside about it.

The Harriers have old might have capitulated and thrown in the towel especially as the Iron threatened a second when Butler nodded a decent chance into John Danby's arms and Walters rattled the left hand post with a fierce low drive.

But despite their brightest moments being a couple of half hearted runs by loan striker Chris Beardsley - one of which resulting in a booking for an alleged dive in the box - Harriers battled on.

And although they could not match their hosts in terms of possession and potent attacking, they did manage to claw their way back into the game from a rare attack on the half hour mark.

Gary Birch it was who answered his critics for the second successive week by bundling in the equaliser past a flailing Paul Musselwhite after Dean Keates's cross was only half cleared.

With the bit between their teeth Harriers pressed forward with renewed confidence with Birch trying his luck with an effort which tested Musselwhite from the edge of the box.

Their best chance of the game though arrived moments later when new signing Bertrand Cozic broke free on the half way line, but the Frenchman just lacked the legs to capitalise and was brilliantly denied by Butler.

Even so, Harriers looked strong enough to hold on to a point to go with the three they took from Scunthorpe at Aggborough earlier in the season.

Alas it was not to be as substitute Paul Hayes was allowed to escape unchallenged onto a hopeful ball from skipper Andy Crosby before sliding an angled shot past Danby.

From then on there was no way back for Kidderminster and it could have been worse had Danby not produced two smart stops to deny Hayes, while Crosby and Butler also made a mess of late chances.

SCUNTHORPE: Musselwhite, Byrne, Sharp, Crosby, Butler, Sparrow, Beagrie, Kell, Baraclough (Taylor 66), Torpey, Walters (Taylor 66). Subs not used: Evans, Angus, Rankine.

HARRIERS: Danby, Weaver, Jones, Hatswell, Sall, Birch, Foster (Russell 80), McGrath, Keates (Sturrock 80), Cozic, Beardsley. Subs not used: Lewis, Burton, McHale.

REFEREE: C Boyeson (Yorkshire).

ATTENDANCE: 5,023.