Saturday, March 18, 2000

PHIL King came in for praise from manager Jan Molby after hitting Kidderminster Harriers' winner in their 2-1 Nationwide Conference victory at relegation-threatened Welling United on Saturday.

"In the first half he was absolutely superb," said the Aggborough chief whose side remain five points clear ahead of Rushden & Diamonds at the top of the table.

Rushden, who have two matches in hand over Molby's promotion-seekers, kept up the pressure on Harriers with a 4-0 home win over bottom-placed Sutton United.

Kidderminster, beaten 2-0 at Welling in the FA Cup in October, went ahead through leading scorer Ian Foster after 27 minutes before Mark Hone equalised in the 56th minute.

King, however, notched what proved to be a priceless winner three minutes later to celebrate his first appearance in Harriers starting line-up since November 27.

Molby said of the former Aston Villa campaigner: "We know he's got quality, but we knew we were taking a gamble when we signed him because of his injury problems and we've had to nurse him through."

In the 73rd minute King made way for midfielder Dean Bennett who had been relegated to the substitutes' bench.

Said Molby: "He could possibly have stayed on, but I just thought with them being on top I just needed something different. Bennett came on and created a couple of chances for himself, so it worked out well."

Molby felt, however, that his side should have wrapped up the points by half time which would have avoided some tense moments during the second period.

"After the first half it should have been all over. We produced some of the best football we have played all season but we just didn't take our chances. They possibly got a bit closer to us in the second half and Foster had three or four chances to have wrapped it up.

"But I think there are going to be a lot of tense endings to matches from now up to the end of the season.

"It's our seventh away win of the season. People have been saying that our away record hasn't been particularly good, but there's only one team that's won more away than us and that's Rushden."

Harriers were well worth their lead when Foster notched his 15th goal of the season following a fine build-up by Andy Brownrigg and Mike Marsh.

Further chances came and went and then just before half time Stewart Hadley was denied by an excellent save from keeper Paul Wilkerson.

Battling Welling drew level when Harriers failed to clear a Jae Martin corner and Hone scored from close range.

King put Kidderminster back in front when he scored with a deflected shot for his second goal of the campaign.

Another splendid save by Wilkerson again foiled Hadley before more chances were spurned, enabling Welling to stay in the hunt, particularly as their front-runner Martin and Zeke Rowe were a frequent threat to Harriers rear-guard.

The victory enabled Kidderminster to complete the 'double' over Welling who lost 4-1 at Aggborough last month.