Saturday, April 15, 2002

CARETAKER boss Ian Britton did his long-term job prospects no harm by guiding Kidderminster Harriers to an excellent 2-0 win at promotion-chasing Rushden and Diamonds.

Britton has suffered just one defeat since he took temporary charge, and that was when Harriers finished with eight men at Bristol Rovers.

The youth and reserve team chief has ensured the Aggborough men will achieve the highest finish in their history in the Division Three top ten, although they cannot now make the play-offs.

Saturday's win must rank as one of the best of the season as the visitors grew in confidence and nearly romped away with more goals.

Britton will have been especially glad to see a change in fortune as Rushden twice hit the woodwork and gifted Richie Appleby a 52nd-minute opener.

But sheer hard work and attacking pace enabled Harriers to rub some of the shine off the Diamonds' play-off charge and complete the double over their old Conference championship rivals.

Britton declared: "The whole team was magnificent -- I could pick out anybody. They all worked their socks off, kept their shape and did everything I asked of them. I thought we thoroughly deserved to win.

"We had a few scary moments in the first 20 minutes but held firm and as the game went on we got better and better. We probably could have had three or four goals in the end.

"Any side I manage I want to work hard -- I'm a great believer in that. If you work hard and get players who can play as well, you have a half-decent side. That's what we have at the moment."

Harriers, without the suspended Scott Stamps and Drewe Broughton, started brightly without troubling keeper Billy Turley.

Rushden's Brett Angell and Paul Hall both wasted good chances before 'keeper Stuart Brock made a good reaction save to claw away defender Andy Tillson's deflected shot just before the interval.

However, Harriers were gifted the lead with a bizarre goal seven minutes into the second half.

Rushden's Stuart Wardley passed back to Turley without looking only to find Appleby alone in the area and the midfielder calmly took his time before slipping the ball into the net.

The home side nearly struck back within seconds when Angell hammered Onandi Lowe's pass against the bar and Wardley fired the rebound straight at Brock.

Harriers looked to add to their tally with Appleby's low 25-yarder tipped wide but Rushden also continued to threaten.

Brock held Andy Burgess' drive comfortably and then touched top scorer Lowe's firm header from a Paul Underwood cross onto the post on 65 minutes.

But the home side were generous again 10 minutes later when Bo Henriksen wrapped up victory for the visitors.

Turley was caught out on the right flank with Dean Bennett beating him to the ball and then feeding Henriksen for a simple tap-in.