Saturday, January 5, 2002

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers warmed up in style for Tuesday's crucial Division Three clash against second-placed Luton Town with an impressive 4-1 win at Torquay United.

Ian Foster will have done his chances of a recall to the starting line-up no harm at all with two goals after coming on as one of three substitutes in the 66th minute and replacing injured live-wire Colin Larkin, who set up the first goal.

Larkin could have gone solo in the third minute when he beat the offside trap to great effect but then spooned his cross.

But there were no such problems when the striker set off down the wing in the seventh minute.

This time his pin-point cross was met at the far post by unmarked Dane Bo Henriksen, whose bullet-like header gave home goalkeeper Kevin Dearden no chance as it hit the bottom corner of the net.

Torquay soon hit back, however, when transfer-listed striker Eifion Williams was tumbled down on the edge of the Harriers penalty area just three minutes later.

Jason Fowler dispatched the free kick, low and hard through Harriers' five-man wall.

In an action-packed first-half the visitors held the upper hand and it needed a brilliant save by Dearden to keep out Larkin's shot as three Harriers players lined up to put the finishing touch to Richie Appleby's cross from the right.

Dearden then made saves in the 25th and 26th minutes to stop Dean Bennett adding to his tally of seven successive league goals as Kidderminster poured forward at will.

Andy Ducros also went close after a solo run from the half-way line in the 33rd minute.

Just as Torquay seemed to be getting to their feet, Appleby scored in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, latching on to a poor header by home full back Matt Hockley before cutting in from the right and firing the ball under Dearden and in.

Henriksen went close in the 50th minute before chipping an exquisite ball into Foster's path in the 72nd minute.

The substitute raced on to the ball and beat Dearden as he came out to the edge of the box with his first touch.

The home goalkeeper kept out Foster's next close range effort two minutes later and then in the 83rd minute made a point-blank save to deny Henriksen.

Torquay substitute Chris Brandon should have scored in the 89th minute when he went through one on one with Harriers goalkeeper Stuart Brock.

Brandon was left to rue the miss a minute later as Foster crashed the ball home from six yards after Drewe Broughton's two efforts had been charged down by Torquay's beleaguered defenders.

Satisfied Kidderminster boss Jan Molby said: "We have not played anywhere near our best, we looked tired, but credit to the players that dug in on a difficult pitch.

"We had to change a little bit, we just wanted long balls over the top which caused them problems every time we did it.

"Although we played nowhere near our best we could have been talking about scoring seven or eight goals.

"We have this amazing ability to create chances and score goals which is great thing to have when you are not playing your best."

Larkin will miss Tuesday's game after suffering a hamstring strain in the second- half, while defender Ian Clarkson will be doubtful after collecting a thigh injury late in the first-half.