Saturday, April 19, 2003

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers need to win at York City today to keep alive their slim Nationwide League Division Three play-off hopes following Saturday's damaging 2-0 defeat against high-riding Wrexham at wind-swept Aggborough.

Harriers were sunk by goals from Lee Trundle who pounced in the 37th and 64th minutes to keep the Red Dragons firmly on course for automatic promotion.

Disappointed Aggborough boss Ian Britton said: "Looking at the other results it has not killed off our chances but if we lose at York that will be it. Three wins in our last three games could do it for us."

Third-placed Wrexham, who lost 2-0 at home to Kidderminster earlier in the season, took the lead shortly after play had resumed following a 10-minute hold-up.

The interruption came in the 22nd minute when the players were taken off by referee Fraser Stretton after a temporary television gantry blew over on the railway side of the ground which is not in use due to redevelopment.

No-one was hurt in the incident and the action resumed after scaffolding on the side of the pitch had been cleared by a team of stewards.

Although the hold-up seemed to take some of the momentum out of Wrexham's play they went ahead when Trundle chested the ball down just inside his own half and ran forward unchallenged before lashing an unstoppable wind-assisted shot past keeper Stuart Brock from 25 yards.

To the delight of Wrexham's 1,369 travelling fans Trundle sealed victory for his side when he struck from close range following a corner.

Harriers, without illness victims Drewe Broughton and John Melligan together with suspended Bo Henriksen, tried to get back into the game and in the last minute midfielder Sean Parrish was denied by a point-blank save by keeper Andy Dibble.

Britton said: "We played well for 20 to 25 minutes but could not get the goal. We had two or three good chances but did not stick them away."

Harriers: Brock 7, Stamps 7, H Williams 8, Hinton 6, Smith 5 (Foster 21, 6), Bennett 7, Parrish 6, Shilton 6, Flynn 6, Scott 6, Bishop 5 (McAuley 75). Subs (not used): Danby, Heath, Khela.

Attendance: 3,689.