Express & Star

Kidderminster Harriers 1 Cheltenham 2

Published
Last updated

A spirited performance failed to save Kidderminster Harriers from slipping to defeat against National League leaders Cheltenham Town at Aggborough.

more

The damaging setback left rock-bottom Harriers a daunting 11 points away from safety.

Cheltenham went ahead on 26 minutes through former Aggborough campaigner Danny Wright before Kyle Howkins equalised on the half-hour mark.

But the rampant Robins sealed a hard-earned victory with a 67th minute goal from their captain Aaron Downes. His winner stretched Cheltenham's lead at the top of the table to seven points.

It left relegation-haunted Harriers with the tough task of trying to pick up the pieces in today's clash at second-placed Forest Green Rovers.

Battling Kidderminster made Cheltenham work hard for victory in the first meeting between the two sides at non-league level since April 1999.

The visitors, however, were thwarted on a number of occasions by a man-of-the-match display from Harriers' goalkeeper Dean Snedker.

The table-toppers were also foiled when a couple of their efforts struck the woodwork. But, despite riding their luck, Kidderminster produced a performance which encouraged head coach Dave Hockaday.

He said: "We played the top team and we pushed them to a degree. I thought in the first half Cheltenham started well.

"We seemed to have weathered the storm and then they get a free header against our biggest defender.

Harriers' Omari Patrick in mid-air.

"That seemed to galvanise us and I thought we played really well. We scored and looked dangerous at set plays and counter attacks.

"In the second-half, we had the wind behind us and it was a chance to be on the front foot. But we didn't press them enough or get going in the second half and they deserved to win the game."

Cheltenham had an Andrija Novakovich shot hit the base of the upright in the opening minutes before they forged ahead with a close range header from Wright.

Hard-working Harriers equalised when a Ben Whitfield corner found Kelvin Langmead.

His header was scooped off the line by goalkeeper Dillon Phillips to enable Howkins, on loan from West Bromwich Albion, to stab home his first goal for the club.

Cheltenham went perilously close to regaining the lead one minute into first-half stoppage time, when a rasping long range drive from Jack Munns smashed against the angle of bar and post.

The Robins soon began searching for a goal in the second period but were denied on a number of occasions by Snedker, whose best saves kept out efforts from Wright and twice from Ryan Jennings.

Former Harriers captain Kyle Storer was also denied by a goal-line clearance before relieved Cheltenham were rewarded for their efforts with a headed winner from Downes.

Substitute Gurjit Singh had a late effort as Harriers fought to equalise but his shot on the turn failed to trouble keeper Phillips and it rose over the crossbar.

Things don't get any easier for Harriers after today's match, as they visit Cheltenham on Saturday in the second helping of a festive double header.