Saturday, November 19, 2005

PENALTY controversy haunted Kidderminster Harriers for the second weekend running as their winless run stretched to five games.

Harriers slipped two places down the Conference table to 16th with Saturday's stalemate at home to promotion-chasing York City.

But they could have taken all three points when Iyseden Christie broke away only for goalkeeper Chris Porter to seemingly haul down the six-goal top scorer in the box.

However, Leicestershire referee Amy Rayner incensed boss Stuart Watkiss and most people connected with Harriers by failing to award a spot-kick nine minutes from time.

A defeat would have been harsh on York, though, who played their part in a hard-fought contest that could have gone either way.

Harriers' debutant Russ Penn and on-loan Marc Pugh, along with Simon Heslop in an unfamiliar left-sided role, showed considerable promise in a youthful midfield.

Tenacious

Pugh displayed some tricky footwork, Penn and Heslop put in tenacious performances to stand out among their more experienced colleagues and Michael Blackwood filled in well at left-back.

And another rookie, goalkeeper Daniel Lewis, enhanced his growing reputation with a diving save, billed as world-class by his manager, from Lee Andrews' 15-yard drive on 79 minutes to keep only their third clean sheet of the season.

But there was no avoiding the penalty issue at the end of the game for Harriers who were downed 3-1 by Stevenage Borough the previous weekend with the help of a questionable spot-kick.

Watkiss said: "For two weeks on the bounce, I'll be leaving the game still puzzled by what I see as a poor refereeing decision that has ultimately decided the game.

"I have to say I think the officials were poor from start to finish. The linesman didn't help with the penalty decision so you have to wonder why he's there.

"I shook hands with their manager Billy McEwan at the end and the first thing he said to me was it was a definite penalty. Not only was it a penalty but their goalkeeper should have been sent off."

Watkiss marched over to the referee following the final whistle to question her decision but insisted: "There was no bad language. I just thought it was unacceptable and I gave her my views."

He added: "It was a good game between two good teams with some strong players. The work-rate and energy, particularly from our young midfield, was excellent."

York's former Harriers loan striker Andy Bishop nearly crowned his return by firing the ball into the net on just 13 minutes but was ruled offside as Lewis turned aside Leo Bertos' shot.

The hosts could not add a clinical finish to neat approach play with Porter holding on comfortably to efforts from Taiwo Atieno, Heslop and Pugh.

In the second-half, Christie jinked his way into the box and lashed a fierce shot into the side netting, while Lewis did well to push away Levant Yelcin's 25-yarder at the other end.

The Harriers goalkeeper pulled off his great stop before seeing his team denied the penalty in a sensational three-minute spell.

But there could have been a sting in the tail with Bishop missing a great late chance and York sub Joe O'Neill spectacularly volleying onto the roof of the net.

HARRIERS: Lewis; Mullins, Jackson, Burgess, Blackwood; Pugh, Penn, Fleming, Heslop; Atieno, Christie. Subs not used: Danby, Thompson, Wilson, Graves, Hurren.

ATTENDANCE: 1,768.