Monday, November 1, 1999

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers moved into fifth place in the Nationwide Conference table with a 2-0 victory over rivals Hednesford Town at Keys Park last night.

Manager Jan Molby's men are now just six points adrift of table-topping Rushden and Diamonds with a game in hand.

Kidderminster fully deserved their third away victory of the season with below-par Hednesford finding Thomas Skovbjerg difficult to contain.

He laid on the first goal in the 19th minute for Scott Stamps and then got himself on the scoresheet himself six minutes from time.

After a tame opening period, ever-improving Kidderminster steadily began to get on top and Skovbjerg pushed the Pitmen onto the slippery slope to defeat when he picked up the ball just inside the home side's half and swept his way past three players before setting up the chance for unmarked Stamps to score.

Whisker

It was Stamps' first goal for the club and an ideal tonic after missing the last four matches with a calf injury.

Shortly afterwards Harriers skipper Paul Webb was just a whisker away with a 30-yard effort, although Mark Druce missed a fine chance of stretching his side's lead when he failed to score from close range after the ball had deflected off Stamps.

After the break, Kidderminster continued to hold the upper hand with Stamps going close on a couple of occasions.

Skovbjerg, however, was denied in the 72nd minute when his first time shot was expertly saved by keeper Paul Morgan.

Hednesford continued to find Harriers a tough nut to crack and their only real serious shot on goal came in the 80th minute from Neil Davis although it failed to cause much of a problem for keeper Tim Clarke.

With such a narrow lead Kidderminster were always vulnerable, but maximum points were finally secured when Skovbjerg scored with a 20-yard shot which went into the net despite diving Morgan managing to get a hand to the ball.

For delighted Kidderminster it was their third Conference victory on the trot and the perfect preparation for another local derby on Saturday when they travel to take on lowly Telford United.

Kidderminster: Clarke 7, Hinton 7, Hines 7, Webb 7, Pope 7, Smith 8, Bennett 7, Skovbjerg 9, Druce 6 (Hadley, 86 minutes), Stamps 7, Petersen 6. Subs (not used): King, Harman, Barnett, Brock.

Star man: Thomas Skovbjerg.

Attendance: 1,522.