TWO lapses in concentration turned Harriers' league revival right on it's head today as Stevenage Borough showed how it should be done by leaving Aggborough with all three points in a 2-1 win.
Stevenage, who themselves have been inconsistent this season have put just two wins together on the bounce now and find themselves one more win away from a spot in the top ten in the league - defeat at high-flying Gravesend and Northfleet next weekend, meanwhile, will almost certainly see Harriers drop into the Conference relegation zone - they only sit clear of the bottom four spaces by a deficit of one point tonight.
When you lay out those two scenarios it's no wonder that boss Mark Yates and all Harriers supporters are so furious with the team's inconsistency - it really does only take a couple of wins to make a difference but today Harriers struggled to even grasp the basics.
Stevenage have struggled away from home all season, but through two lapses of concentration at the back from Harriers, they were gifted just their second travelling success of the campaign.
They couldn't have asked for an easier start - Luke Oliver scored his first ever goal for Borough with eight minutes gone by jumping highest in the area from a corner as the home defence was caught napping - his powerful header crashed past Bevan and in to the back of the net.
Harriers almost replied immediately and debutant James Constable will be disappointed that he didn't level matters on 11 minutes as he turned and shot wide inside the area.
Borough goalkeeper Alan Julian was barely given a save to make in the first period as the home side tried to put together a move, Russell Penn and Gavin Hurren had good attempts but failed to get them on target.
Stevenage meanwhile continued to look dangerous as Steve Morrison and Steve Guppy supplied the ammunition in style, both of the duo were themselves unlucky not to get on the score sheet before the break.
Harriers looked lively in a spell after the break and it's no surprised the application lead to them grabbing an equaliser two minutes in through Iyseden Christie, who took down Michael Blackwood's ball inside the area beautifully before crashing home into the top of the net.
The popular striker's eighth goal of the season should have been the perfect foil for the hosts to go on and take the lead but instead it was another lapse in concentration that cost dear.
Ten minutes into the second half, Harriers cleared a Stevenage corner and seemed so relieved to have done so that they completely switched off as Guppy re-cycled the ball with a deep cross that found highly-rated George Boyd fee on goal, the youngster lobbed the onrushing Bevan before wheeling away in celebration.
Constable forced a fine save from Julian with Harriers only other decent chance of the game on 67 minutes, he bided his time with the ball at his feet in the area before firing a high shot that the stopper superbly fisted-over.
Just a minute later Harriers' afternoon went from bad to worse as Captain Stuart Whitehead was forced to be substituted after picking up what initially looks to be a hamstring injury.
With five minutes of injury time afforded to them Harriers had enough time and chances to try and salvage something from the game, but neither efforts from Blackwood nor Creighton really worried Julian.
Upon reflection, as heads didn't drop it's true enough to say that Harriers have put in much worse performances at times this season but with so many comparisons being made between Stevenage and Harriers as similar teams, it's a huge disappointment that avoidable mistakes proved to be the only real difference - Borough will march on with confidence with their eye on the top ten as the home side will be forced to look over their shoulder with a difficult game ahead next week.
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Harriers: Bevan, Kenna (Smikle 87), Creighton, Whitehead (Harkness 68), Blackwood, Russell, Davies (White 86), Hurren, Christie, Constable, Penn. Today's match attendance: 1,584 Today's referee: Karl Evans (Manchester) |
