PLYMOUTH 2 HARRIERS 1

AS an unlikely victory faded away, the wrath of angry Kidderminster Harriers boss Jan Molby was unleashed on a match official.

The Dane was left fuming with referee Richard Beeby for his contribution to both of the Plymouth goals.

Makeshift Harriers had looked set to take three points from what initially looked a tough trip to the runaway Division Three leaders.

Plymouth were surprisingly lack-lustre and could never claim to have deserved the slice of luck that was to head their way.

In fact, the game had been in major doubt after a power cut left thousands of fans locked out of the ground.

Although the game eventually kicked off at 4.30pm, the problem was only fixed a matter of minutes before the 4pm deadline.

Molby did not dwell on that but was furious with the award of a corner that led to the home side's equaliser, headed home by Graham Coughlan.

And he was literally hopping mad after a penalty was given for Scott Stamps' alleged intentional handball at point-blank range.

Defender Paul Wotton crashed home the spot-kick with ease and Harriers' play-off hopes took another knock with only two points gained from the last 15 available.

Not that expectations were particularly high at Home Park with five first-team regulars, including their key midfield trio, out injured.

But Harriers' 4-5-1 formation was effective, not least because lone front-man Drewe Broughton was back in form.

The big forward helped Harriers survive five early corners which included a routine save for keeper Stuart Brock from Mickey Evans.

Then Broughton pounced to put a more confident-looking Harriers into a 33rd minute lead with a well-taken header.

Adie Smith knocked Steve Adams off the ball in midfield and fed Ian Foster whose left-wing cross was perfect for Broughton.

Plymouth fought back as expected with Wotton's corner directly hitting the bar and Brock making an excellent save to foil Adams' low 15-yard drive.

As the second half progressed, it became clear Harriers may have little trouble in holding onto their single-goal lead.

But two minutes after a triple substitution Argyle gained their lucky break with the ball out of play before Evans' cross hit Stamps, according to Molby.

Yet a 67th minute corner was awarded and Jon Beswetherick's precise flag-kick was headed home from close range by Coughlan.

Lively sub Marino Keith shot straight at Brock before Stamps was to become the man of the moment.

First, he was booked for dissent then Beeby harshly ruled he had meant to handle Blair Sturrock's header on the left-hand side of the box.

With just nine minutes left, Wotton slammed home the penalty to complete the kind of fortunate turnaround you would expect of a potential champion.

PLYMOUTH: Larrieu; Worrell, Wotton, Coughlan, Beswetherick; Phillips (Sturrock 65), Adams, Friio, Hodges (Heaney 65); Evans, Stonebridge (Keith 65). Subs not used: McCormick, Broad.

HARRIERS: Brock 7; Clarkson 6, Sall 7, HINTON 8, Stamps 6; Bird 6, Bennett 6, Smith 7, Davies 6 (Larkin 63, 5), Foster 7; Broughton 7. Subs not used: Danby, Shilton, Ayres, Joy.

ATTENDANCE: 8,758.

SHOTS ON: Plymouth 6, Harriers 2.

SHOTS OFF: Plymouth 3, Harriers 3.

CORNERS: Plymouth 8, Harriers 7.

GOALS: Broughton 33, Coughlan 67, Wotton 81.

BOOKINGS: Plymouth 0, Harriers 1 (Stamps).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Craig Hinton. Again defended solidly alongside the improved Abdou Sall, winning a series of headers and clearing up well at the back.