Carlisle 2 Harriers 0

JAN Molby slaughtered his defence in a post-match press conference and it was hardly a surprise.

Harriers were two goals down within the first 16 minutes and Carlisle United were always going to be very difficult to break down after that.

The Cumbrians' strikes, which lifted them off the bottom of Division Three, were a major disappointment for Harriers defensively.

And Molby admitted he was looking for swift improvements from the back-line that were so crucial to their solid start to the season.

Even the dependable Craig Hinton had a torrid time on Saturday, while the versatile Adie Smith was the latest victim of a lack of left-sided players as he replaced the injured Scott Stamps.

Harriers were never comfortable with strikers Scott Dobie and Ian Stevens, not for the first time this season.

Molby's men had previously fallen 1-0 in the league and 2-0 in the FA Cup at Aggborough before gaining some revenge over Carlisle in a 2-1 LDV Vans Trophy victory.

However, this latest meeting has left Harriers nervously looking over their shoulders as they slip down the table.

They have not won in 2001 and the run without a victory has stretched to eight games.

But Harriers could perhaps again blame a lack of luck in the second minute when Drewe Broughton headed Adie Smith's centre against the post.

Perhaps the result could have been different then but the Carlisle goals that followed might suggest not.

A good move from the home side caught their opponents completely flat-footed, Steve Soley feeding the menacing Dobie in the penalty area.

And Dobie crossed low for an unchallenged Stevens to stab home the ninth-minute opener from close range.

Seven minutes later, Mark Birch's long ball drifted over Hinton and Dobie was first to react by bringing the ball down and firing past Stuart Brock.

Carlisle were happy to put up a strong defensive barrier throughout the rest of the match which meant Harriers often bossed the possession.

On-loan Broughton was the main threat to their goal but keeper Matt Glennon was in impressive form.

Glennon tipped a fierce 30-yard strike from the big front-man wide on 26 minutes.

Perhaps their best chances in the second half were two headers, Broughton nodding Neil MacKenzie's cross into the side netting and Durnin directing a better chance over.

The architect was again MacKenzie who has consistently been Harriers' chief creator throughout their poor form.

Glennon showed his ability by blocking well from Broughton on 72 minutes after the striker benefited from a lucky deflection.

And then the on-loan Bolton man parried long-range efforts from MacKenzie and Broughton before holding Smith's effort in the final minute. If only Harriers were resisting pressure so well.

l The Cardiff clash on Sunday, February 25, (kick-off 12 noon) is all-ticket and they will go on sale from Saturday.