NEIL Howarth has criticised Harriers for lacking quality and character after going behind in a game it looked like they were controlling against Weymouth today.

After a decent first-half showing against Jason Tindall's Terras, Ashley Vickers' opener for the visitors seemed to knock everything out of the home side as they collapsed and fell to a disappointing defeat.

Speaking to the official website after the game, Assistant Boss Howarth was under no illusions as to what the problems were.

He explained: "Up until the first goal we were probably the better side, we had a lot of the ball without creating any major chances.

"But much like last week, as soon as we went a goal down we didn't look like we had that bit of quality to get back into the game.

"When you're playing at home and you're a goal down you need a few characters to stand up and be counted and show that bit of quality that at the moment they aren't doing."

Pressed for an explanation as to why Harriers seem to have a lack of bite as of late, certainly when going a goal behind, Howarth was adamant that his side need to show more confidence.

Youngsters Jon Munday and Matthew Barnes-Homer were two youngsters handed starts against the Seasiders.

Howarth pointed the finger of blame at the more experienced members of the squad for not doing enough.

"There are a lot of young lads who play off confidence and feel the pressure," he added.

"It's difficult when you go a goal behind to find that confidence to want the ball in difficult areas.

"They stop doing the right things and start to play a little bit more safely than perhaps they should do.

"You can't win games like that. [Barnes Homer and Munday] were two young lads who came in and did well but the senior lads let them down a bit today."

Looking ahead to the next week, Howarth continued: "We're low at the moment and we have to look at ourselves, myself, the manager and the players, there will be a lot of hard work to do next week just like there was this week."