Saturday, December 3, 2005

A MAKESHIFT Kidderminster Harriers side delivered the goods to produce their first Conference win in nearly two months.

Against similarly out-of-form Dagenham and Redbridge, Harriers forward Iyseden Christie bagged two goals but on-loan youngster Marc Pugh took many of the plaudits.

Pugh set up Christie's 41st-minute opener with a sublime piece of skill and got his first-team account off the mark with a fine header.

Boss Stuart Watkiss said: "I thought Pugh was great. He was just about to get a telling-off from Martin (O'Connor) and myself for his little trick in the first-half until the goal went in!

"It was simply a moment of brilliance. You could see his confidence was boosted by that goal and that really drove him on. He took his own goal well and can be proud.

"We broke quickly, looked good on the break and, most importantly, we took our chances. But nobody is going to get too excited around here until we start showing some consistency."

With Daryl Burgess and skipper Mark Jackson suspended, Watkiss brought in Gavin Hurren for his first start and debutant Patrick Flynn into the defence.

They gave solid performances but goalkeeper Daniel Lewis did underline his potential with an important save from Chris Moore.

However, Harriers, who also handed a rare start to Lee Thompson, deserved the three points that moved them above Saturday's opponents to 15th position in the Conference.

A dour start to the first-half gave little indication of the entertainment ahead although Mullins did have a header blocked on the goal-line.

The tricky Pugh, a teenager on work experience from Burnley, finally unlocked the Dagenham defence by flicking the ball over a defender and crossing for Christie to apply the decisive touch.

Lewis turned a shot from Moore around the post to prevent a quick reply before Harriers netted an important second goal before the interval.

Former Welsh international goalkeeper Tony Roberts prevented his own defender, Shane Blackett, finding the net but was then beaten by Pugh's header from Wayne Hatswell's cross back into the box.

Harriers wrapped the game up on 66 minutes with a great header from top scorer Christie, his 10th goal of the season, following another Hatswell cross.

Dagenham did manage a consolation through midfielder Glen Southam's terrific 20-yard volley nine minutes from time.

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

ATTENDANCE: 1,559.