Not so sweet 16 as Harriers end on a downer

Kidderminster Harriers' turbulent season ended in a 2-1 defeat to Eastleigh to leave them in 16th place in the table.

Second-half goals from Craig Stanley and former Harriers favourite James Constable sealed the visitors' fate, after Danny Wright had given them a lead after just 44 seconds.

Harriers manager Gary Whild was less than impressed with the performance of referee Lee Swabey, not the first occasion the Plymouth official had incurred the wrath of Harriers.

Whild said: "There are four thousand people, players and officials who were in the ground yet he was the only one who could see the foul that led to Eastleigh's second goal.

"It's a shame because that goal knocked us."

Eastleigh knew avoiding defeat would give them an extension to the season, but Harriers took advantage of some nervy defending.

Wright stole in to drill a left footed effort from wide on the left flank into the unguarded goal.

Kevin Nicholson then forced Ross Flitney to tip over a curling free-kick before Callum Gittings and Jack Byrne went close to adding to the lead.

The second-half was barely five minutes old when Wright lifted the ball over the advancing Flitney, only for defender Dan Spence to clear the goal-bound effort off the line.

Then, on 54 minutes, following a goalmouth scramble, Craig Stanley stabbed in the equalising goal.

On 74 minutes, Nathaniel Kelly was adjudged by Swabey to have impeded Joe Partington, a pivotal moment which dictated the outcome of the game.

Harriers cleared the free-kick to Jack Midson whose effort cannoned of the base of the post, hit the diving Lewis and fell into the path of Constable.

He steered the ball home from close range to secure a play-off place for the Spitfires.