Tuesday, October 4, 1999.

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Jan Molby was left fuming as his side were dumped out of the Nationwide Macmillan Trophy by losing 1-0 in last night's first round clash at Altrincham.

The result swung on two controversial incidents in the last ten minutes.

On 80 minutes a clear trip on Ian Foster by former Kidderminster man Simeon Hodson seemed certain to produce a spot kick, but referee Shaw waved confident Harriers appeals aside to the amazement of the visitors.

To add insult to injury, five minutes later the home side's Kevin Ellison was clean through. Out rushed Harriers goalkeeper Tim Clarke, and Ellison went down although it seemed that Clarke had not made any contact.

Referee Shaw again amazed the 370 crowd by pointing to the spot and starting ugly scenes as Harriers players surrounded the official.

Brendan Burke sent Clarke the wrong way from the spot to score the game's only goal. Afterwards Clarke confronted the referee and continued his protests that he had not made contact.

Before the fateful penalty Harriers had looked the better team throughout, counter-attacking quickly with Foster in particular causing Altrincham many problems.

Kidderminster's problem, however, was the absence of a striking impact against a home defence which looked decidedly rocky.

Molby will have been particularly unhappy that his side forced home 'keeper Stuart Coburn into only half a dozen serious saves in the match.

At the other end Altrincham might have had the game safely in the bag by the interval. Ellison missed two excellent chances in the first period while Clarke was well beaten by a Price shot which rebounded off the cross bar to safety.

Harriers still had their own chances, however, with Ally Pickering clearing off the line from an Andy Brownrigg header on 14 minutes.

Kidderminster's best chance came on 58 minutes when Thomas Skovbjerg arrived at the far post to meet Foster's centre after Dean Bennett had sprung the off-side trap. Unfortunately the Dane's sliding effort ended up the wrong side of Coburn's left hand post.

Kidderminster: Clarke 7, Hinton 7, Hines 6, Webb 8, Cunnington 8, Smith 7, Bennett 8, Skovbjerg 9, Druce 6, Foster 8, Brownrigg 7.

Star man: Thomas Skovbjerg.

Attendance: 370.