Saturday, April 21, 2001

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers cured their travel sickness with a healthy 3-1 Nationwide League Division Three victory against rivals Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road.

It was just what the doctor ordered for Harriers after failing to win a league match on opposition territory since their 2-1 triumph at Darlington on October 17.

For the Robins it was a bitter pill to swallow particularly as they had hoisted themselves onto the brink of the play-off places with a 12-match unbeaten run.

On Saturday, however, they had to play second fiddle to a determined Harriers side who clinched victory with goals from Paul Webb, Tony Bird and Drewe Broughton.

The trio had been drafted back into the side as part of Jan Molby's plan to beef up his side for what he rightly anticipated would be a tough, physical clash.

The Kidderminster boss said: "We obviously set our stall out right from the word go that we weren't going to be intimidated because that's the way they play. They are a physical side and we picked a team to combat that."

Cheltenham, however, made their cause far more difficult by having midfielder Lee Howells sent off in the 25th minute for an off-the-ball incident with front-runner Broughton.

Molby said: "They couldn't handle Broughton. He intimidated their big centre halves and they were more concerned with him than with the ball.

Chances

Because of that we got some good chances, particularly in the first half.

"If it had been 11 against 11 we don't know what would have happened, but I'd have still backed us to beat them the way we were up for it and the way we played.

"There are still things we need to work on. The majority of the season has been disappointing but in the last couple of games we have turned things around and changed the line-up slightly."

Kidderminster paved the way for only their third away Division Three win of the campaign in the 20th minute when Webb notched his first league goal.

It was the product of Dean Bennett's centre into the danger zone and when Stewart Hadley challenged 'keeper Steve Book the ball broke loose to Webb who fired home from 18 yards.

Five minutes later Howells received his red card and then on the stroke of half time Harriers made it 2-0 when a wayward shot from the eye-catching Daire Doyle found Bird who scored with an expertly taken side-footed shot.

Cheltenham, who drew 1-1 at Aggborough earlier in the season, grabbed a lifeline in the 54th minute when former Hereford United striker Neil Grayson headed in a cross from Charlie MacDonald.

Their hopes of a fightback, however, were dashed when dazzling Doyle went past three defenders before chipping in a cross for Broughton to head home in the 64th minute.

Doyle said afterwards: "It was a great performance overall. With two games left hopefully we can go on and win those as well. I was delighted to be involved with some of the goals."