Tuesday, February 18, 2003

A BO Henriksen hat-trick helped power Kidderminster Harriers into the Nationwide League Division Three play-off zone with a crushing 5-2 victory over basement club Exeter City at St James Park last night.

Happy Harriers are now in fourth place, just one point away from an automatic promotion spot.

On a record-breaking night, hot-shot Henriksen became the first player to score a Football League hat-trick for Kidderminster.

It went a long way towards helping his on-song side score their most number of goals in a league match.

That was after they had fallen behind with just three minutes on the clock. Sean Devine, latching on to an Andy Roscoe throw, turned inside the six-yard box and fired past helpless 'keeper Fraser Digby.

This seemed to jolt Ian Britton's men into life and Drewe Broughton spurned a gilt-edged opportunity before on 25 minutes, excellent work down the right flank by John Melligan resulted in Henriksen firing past the despairing Kevin Miller.

This opened the floodgates for Harriers and delighted Britton revealed: "As soon as we got the first goal it was one-way traffic.

"We've got pace and the people who are willing to go past defenders. When they are in the mood they can cause problems to any team in this league. The lads now believe that they are as good as anything else in this division."

In a six minute burst before half-time the game was effectively sealed. Adrian Whitbread sliced a dangerous Dean Bennett cross into his own net after 39 minutes while on the stroke of half-time, Roscoe hauled down Bennett and Henriksen coolly converted the spot kick for his second of the evening.

Substitute James Coppinger caught Harriers napping two minutes after the break and reduced the arrears.

But 10 minutes later Henriksen bagged his 17th goal of the season with an effort that hit the bar and rebounded in off Miller.

Seconds later a Bennett cross was glanced home by Broughton.

In the final minute, Exeter's Glenn Cronin was sent off for a second caution.

Harriers: Digby 7, Hinton 7, Smith 7, Scott 7, Bennett 8, Shilton 7 (Ayres 80), Williams 7, Flynn 7, Melligan 8 (Parrish 76), Broughton 7, HENRIKSEN 9 (Bishop 76). Subs not used: Brock, Foster.

Attendance: 1,957.

Kidderminster have re-arranged their match at Lincoln City for Tuesday, March 25 (7.45).