HARRIERS rued missed chances as they were beaten 2-1 at Altrincham in a game they should have taken something from.

As has been the case for too many away games recently, Harriers set the tone by conceding early; Jones left unmarked to head in at the far post after nobody dealt with a corner delivery.

It was two not long after after Hulme forced a finish off the foot of Johnson, before Ironside's goal at least got Harriers back in the game.

The visitors would then dominate the remainder of the tie, but rued missed chances late on and ended up empty-handed once again.

A cagey opening saw Altrincham narrowly edge the early stages, but there's no doubting their first goal was gift-wrapped; a corner easily nodded in at the far post by Jones after no one could decisively clear it.

The visitors did threaten to respond in ideal fashion when a cross was chested by Johnson into the path of Horsfall, but the defender's rising drive clattered the bar and bounced away.

Any semblance that Harriers had the game by the grip of the neck was shattered by the arrival of the second on 19 minutes; Hulme looking to finish from close range as Johnson struck to clear - the latter's effort spooning up and beyond the dive of Hall for 2-0.

Bizarrely that goal did get the reaction needed from the visitors, who actually went on to boss virtually the remaining 70 minutes or so of the match. On 35 minutes, Ironside met a corner with a header that was destined for the net before being cleared on to the bar and away, before the striker went one better four minutes later by superbly turning in a tight spot before poking the ball beyond the goalkeeper.

Taylor's cross almost saw McAlinden convert at the far post, only for the winger to be smothered out by Thompson between the sticks - Harriers nonetheless finishing the half the brighter.

The two teams did a good job at cancelling each other out for a quarter of an hour after the restart, before a Williams on each side had a chance with efforts that dropped wide.

The chances continued to mount up in Harriers' favour as the half wore on, though, a corner falling to Chambers who saw his chip towards the far post narrowly miss the target with 72 on the clock, with Flowers, three minutes later, planting a header at Thompson.

Into the last ten minutes, Harriers should have levelled and won the game in truth - sub Richards couldn't quite angle his finish from a free-kick for the first of a few good opportunities for the visitors, before Thomas, on the stretch, couldn't quite guide Taylor's cross into the net.

With the home side flagging, the best chance of the bunch came in the dying seconds; Williams superbly beating his man and rolling the ball to Richards who, from just a few yards out, blazed the ball over the target to sum up a frustrating afternoon for all in yellow.

RYAN Johnson has called on Harriers to unite as a club as the team enters into the final six games of the season, starting with Altrincham on Saturday.

Despite winning three of their last four games, Harriers find themselves on the outside of the play-offs, looking in.

Poor form over the winter months have left the top seven a distance away – but the odds are far from insurmountable just yet.

That’s left Johnson with a determination to help the team do as well as they can between now and the end of next month.

He knows that, sitting eighth and with a couple of games in hand behind, some may be writing off the side’s play-off chances, but he’s ready to let football do the talking.

“We never have that attitude, to be fair,” he told of our official YouTube channel, looking ahead to the game against the Robins.

“We’re a really good bunch of lads and we always want to work and get as high as we can.

“We know the club should be higher up in the table and we want to do everything in our power to get there.

“It’s all good and well talking about it but putting it into actions is a completely different thing.

“I think we really need to come together now as a club; fans, coaches and players, and really push on for these last few games.”

"...I think we really need to come together now as a club..." Ryan Johnson

It’s Groundhog Day on Saturday for Harriers and many of their opponents – like the last several weeks, the fixture list has pitted them against a promotion rival in the form of Altrincham, who’re having a splendid season.

While defeats against Chorley and Brackley have proved that losing such game can be costly, Johnson is equally aware of the advantage of winning such contests.

He added: “That’s the great thing about our run of games – even though they’re difficult, it is a good incentive to try and get as many points as we can.

“I know the other teams play each other as well so, hopefully, we can get a good few results and we can keep pushing and get a few points.”

Harriers were welcome back Declan Weeks from injury against Brackley last weekend after a spell out.

It is hoped he’ll be fit to again feature this weekend, but staff will need to run the rule over Sam Austin who picked up a knock in the same game, and Billy Daniels who missed the tie at St James Park with a knee injury.

Milan Butterfield has been back at Aggborough this week after a spell away with Bermuda, while its hoped Ed Williams will also be able to get some minutes after a recent injury.

Kick-off at Altrincham on Saturday is at 3:00pm.

WATCH: Ryan Johnson’s full pre-match video interview, courtesy of our YouTube channel, by clicking the video tab above.