MATCH referee Gavin Ward was the centre of attention this afternoon as his controversial display contributed to Harriers 3-1 defeat at Stevenage Borough.

With Martin O'Connor, Gareth Sheldon and Simon Russell all out with injuries, Laurie Wilson, Iyseden Christie and Michael Blackwood were all recalled to the starting line-up.

It all started off so well for the visitors who more than dominated the first 20 minutes of the game, guilty only of missing a string of gilt-edged chances as Blackwood worked tirelessly left of midfield to supply a number of dangerous crosses. Front men Christie and Taiwo Atieno both missed close-range headers in the spell for Harriers, Simon Heslop also blazed just inches wide after Atieno swung and missed at the ball.

CHRISTIE: Sixth goal of the season today

Wilson also showed some flashes of decent play after being deployed out on the right side of the pitch, his crossing into the area in particular causing the hosts problems.

Borough managed the occasional breakaway though, Daniel Lewis in the Harriers goal did well to palm away Darryn Stamp's bullet header from George Boyd's cross.

With 25 minutes gone Graham Westley's men got their noses in front, somewhat against the run of play. After Boyd's corner hit the hand of Wayne Hatswell, referee Ward hesitantly awarded a penalty-kick, though the decision was seemingly more swayed by the home fans' appeals rather than his own conviction. Ex-Harrier STAMP stepped up and slotted the ball past Lewis to give his side the lead.

Lewis did well to save from Stamp's low drive just moments later, acrobatically tipping the ball away for a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Harriers had only themselves to blame as Stevenage increased their lead. Dannie Bulman whipped in the kick and Barry LAKER was granted a free header by the defence to send the ball flying past Lewis into the back of the net.

The hard-working Christie fired another header over the bar as the visitors desperately searched for a reply, Atieno suffered another 'head in hands' moment before the break as he failed to make contact with another great low cross from Blackwood, with only the slightest of touches needed to send it past Alan Julian in the home goal.

Half time: Stevenage 2-0 Harriers

The beginning of the second half was almost non-existent, with the home side evidently happy to settle with their two-goal haul.

To their credit, Stuart Watkiss' men continued to do their best to get forward but it took until the hour mark before the first action of the half surfaced - and it was Borough on the attack! Anthony Elding weaved and wandered through the Harriers defence - only the boot of Wayne Hatswell prevented him from adding a third to the score-line thanks to a heroic block from the left-back.

MULLINS: Let fly with second-half volley

The travelling fans were given something to cheer about though as Christie's intelligent play allowed him to pull a goal back with 67 on the clock. After Borough thought they'd done enough to kill off a Harriers attack, CHRISTIE was left with the simplest of tasks of heading home a poor back-pass from the home defence - Julian left motionless as the ball sailed past him.

With their tails finally up it looked as if Harriers would finally be able to push on and grab themselves a share of the spoils - those plans were dashed in diabolical circumstances within three minutes. Boyd entered the area with the ball at his feet before being dispossessed brilliantly by Hatswell. Not so brilliantly through the eyes of referee Ward, however - he saw fit to award a second penalty kick to the hosts. The decision incensed the away fans, and bewildered almost everyone else inside the ground as not even a single Borough player initially appealed for the spot-kick.
Johnny Mullins was booked for protesting, but after the commotion died down it was STAMP who again put the ball past Lewis from twelve yards, killing off any further hope of a Harriers comeback.

It wasn't for the hope or trying however, as the visitors did their best to remain their composure. Mullins nailed an excellent volley just wide of the post with a quarter of an hour remaining.

It wasn't to be though, and Harriers left Boradhall way empty handed as Ward blew for full-time.

Full Time: Stevenage 3-1 Harriers

It's a pity that the only thing this game will be remembered for is the poor performance of the match official. In all honesty, Harriers hardly helped their cause at times - specifically with the lack of defending for Borough's second goal - but their overall performance certainly deserved more than it got.

Stevenage: Julian, Warner, Laker, Quinn, Prepetuni, Bulman, Brough (Weatherstone 85), Boyd (Lewis 90), Berquez, Elding (Gregory 83), Stamp

Harriers: Lewis, Jackson, Burgess, Hatswell, Mullins, Wilson, Heslop, Fleming (Pugh 86), Blackwood, Christie (Thompson 81), Atieno.

Not used: Danby, Graves, Hurren.

Attendance: 2,207

Referee: Gavin Ward (Kent)

Website MoM: Daniel Lewis - Made some superb saves in both halves and couldn't be faulted for any of Stevenage's three goals - He was within inches of saving both penalties and could very little about Laker's header.