Boss Mark Yates gave his first warning to the squad towards next season today following Harriers' 1-0 defeat at Exeter City.

Matt Gill's powerful finish early in the second period was enough to ensure Harriers run without a win on the road went on - the boys haven't tasted a league success away from Aggborough since beating Burton in early November.

Manager Yates has spoken of margins all season long; on virtually no occasion have Harriers been beaten solely by a 40-yard wonder strike or by being torn to pieces by the opposition.

It's more the norm that they stand toe-to-toe with their foes before falling asleep at the back or failing to take a gilt-edged chance.

And speaking after today's game, Yates said: "We want to finish the season strongly; we want to win as many games as we can.

"But I've said many times before, there's such a fine line - and at the moment we're inches yet a million miles away.

"We've got to sort that out, we've got to sort the wheat from the chaff of this current squad and bring in some better players next season, full stop."

After dominating the first 30 minutes at St. James' Park this afternoon, Harriers seemingly failed to emerge from the dressing room after half-time, as the Grecians went on to record the 1-0 win that keeps their play-off push alive.

"I'm sick of saying - and I'm sure the supporters are sick of hearing me say: we should have taken something out of the game," Yates continued.

"We came to a good footballing side and gave as good as we got but we've got nothing to go home with.

"That's disappointing, considering the amount of chances we had and the amount of decent play we managed to conjure up, especially in the first half.

"I said to the boys at half time that I'd set them a challenge - we've had too many times where we haven't gone out and done it in a second half, and they assured me they'd go out and do it - and not enough did."

HARRIERS NEXT IN ACTION AT HOME TO RUSHDEN AND DIAMONDS ON EASTER MONDAY - KICK-OFF AT AGGBOROUGH 3:00PM