Saturday, April 14, 2001

A GOALKEEPING blunder by Tim Clarke condemned Kidderminster Harriers to a 1-0 defeat in their Nationwide League Division Three clash against leaders Chesterfield at Saltergate.

Clarke made a mess of a corner to enable Luke Beckett to score during first-half stoppage time.

Harriers, however, could have no complaints about the final result, having ridden their luck in the opening period when the Spireites twice hit the woodwork.

For Chesterfield it was a triumphant way to end a troubled week in which a Football League disciplinary panel found them guilty of irregularities over the £150,000 purchase of striker Beckett.

They face being deducted nine points with the panel also recommending a fine totalling £20,000.

Harriers, however, eased Chesterfield's problems by turning in a performance which never really put the Derbyshire outfit's promotion qualities to the test.

Indeed, their only real on-target effort was an 89th minute free kick by Andy Ducross which was tipped over the bar by keeper Mike Pollitt.

Afterwards Harriers boss Jan Molby said: "I thought in the first half Chesterfield played excellently. Their tempo was good and we didn't quite live with it.

"We thought we had rode our luck and would come in at half time level, but the goalkeeping error gifted them a goal and that obviously won them the game.

"I thought our determination and altertness in the first half was a little bit disappointing, but you have got to give credit to Chesterfield after what had happened to them earlier in the week. They were fired up, but we knew that was always going to be the case.

"We soaked up a lot of pressure in the first half and we would have loved to have come in at half time level."

Molby drafted Andy Corbett into the starting line-up for only the second time to partner John Durnin and Stewart Hadley.

He was pleased with the teenager's efforts, saying: "Durnin and Hadley were poor the only one who came out with any credit was Corbett. H

"He tried his best and I'm sure he's going to be one for the future. But the other more experienced player were disappointing.

"We should have been able to put them under a bit more pressure with the players we have got, but it didn't quite work."

Molby denied that his players were "coasting" towards the end of the season, saying: "I just think they don't know what to do. What you need to do is your basics and if you do that you have a chance."

Chesterfield, who won 2-0 at Aggborough in October, quickly set their stall out and after 12 minutes the Beckett had a shot which hit the post before Williams blasted over the rebound.

On 21 minutes David Reeves had an effort crash against the bar and it started to look as if Harriers would survive the first half without cracking.

Beckett, however, made sure that didn't happen when he capitalised on Clarke's mistake.

After the break Harriers again played second fiddle but they did at least prevent the Spireites from creating as many chances, although Clarke did well to stop Beckett making it 2-0 in the 74th minute.