Saturday, April 5, 2003

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers hopes of giving their virus victim boss Ian Britton a welcome pick-me-up were dashed when they conceded a cruel stoppage time equaliser in Saturday's 2-2 Nationwide League Division Three draw against table-topping Hartlepool United at Aggborough.

The deadlock was another major blow to Harriers' dreams of clinching a play-off place which have faded dramatically following a run of five matches without a win.

They remain 11th in the table but now find themselves four points away from the play-off zone.

For Britton it was a bitterly disappointing result at the end of a week in which he spent a night in hospital after being taken ill in training on Tuesday.

He was told to take a few days' rest in order to recover from the virus and must have felt a lot better when Harriers deservedly stormed into a 2-0 half time lead with well-taken goals from strikers Bo Henriksen and Andy Bishop.

Hartlepool, however, reduced the deficit in the 63rd minute through Darrell Clarke and then snatched an equaliser when substitute Eifion Williams scored four minutes into stoppage time following a poor headed back-pass by Dion Scott.

Britton said: "It doesn't matter who plays at the back, or what the system is, we are still letting in sloppy goals -- goals that the opposition don't have to work for. It's been like it all season, so it doesn't surprise me.

"We have played some really good stuff this season -- as good as anybody in this league -- but at any level if you give goals away then you are not going to win things. It's as simple as that.

"It was Scott's mistake for their equaliser, but I'm just not blaming him. It just happened to be his turn to make an error. We could play three, four or even six at the back and with the defenders we have got on our books at the moment I'll guarantee somebody will make a mistake.

"The only reason I'm dejected by the result is because we are going out of the season with a whimper. We are just letting things slip a little.

"I thought our first half performance was great. That doesn't surprise me because that's how we can play -- and that's against the best team in the league."

Harriers signalled their intentions in the 10th minute when a cross from Henriksen was turned onto the bar by Bishop.

Kidderminster went ahead in the 22nd minute when Henriksen collected his 19th goal of the season. He forced the ball home after Sam Shilton burst into the box and squared to Bishop whose attempt at goal ran free for the Dane to add the final touch.

Five minutes later it was 2-0 when Bishop smashed in an unstoppable shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Hartlepool, however, launched their rousing fightback by reducing the arrears with a well-struck volley by Clarke.

Harriers 'keeper Stuart Brock pulled off a couple of excellent saves before Williams poached a last-gasp equaliser with his 15th goal of the campaign.