Report: Kidderminster Harriers 0 Bromley 1

Kidderminster Harriers' relegation fight suffered a massive blow through a controversial refereeing decision and a goalkeeping blunder.

The setback at home to Bromley left bottom-of-the-table Harriers 10 points away from safety with 11 matches left.

The game hinged on a 79th-minute decision by referee Alan Young who turned down appeals for what looked like a blatant penalty.

Kidderminster substitute Evan Garnett was brought down by Bromley skipper Rob Swaine.

The incident infuriated the Aggborough faithful, who then watched their side concede an 86th-minute goal when goalkeeper Dean Snedker misjudged a free-kick from Joe Anderson.#

It was a killer blow for deflated Harriers who will be desperately hoping for better luck in tomorrow night's clash at play-off chasing Braintree Town.

Bromley, making their first-ever visit to Aggborough, breathed a huge sigh of relief when Kidderminster's penalty appeals were ignored by the Cambridgeshire-based referee.

His decision was described as "complete and utter incompetence" by Harriers' chief Colin Gordon.

He said: "How can their captain come to me after the game and say 'sorry chaps it was a stonewall penalty?' He was the one who brought Evan down.

"The referee's assistants said it was a penalty, but the referee says he thought Evan had overrun the ball.

"It's a shambles. Do they not realise these decisions cost people money, jobs and livelihoods."

Kidderminster, beaten 3-2 at Bromley in September, went close to grabbing the lead on a couple of occasions during the first half.

Both opportunities fell to Kelvin Langmead, the first coming in the 15th minute when he had a header cleared off the line.

The defender then had another effort well saved by goalkeeper Alan Julian.

Harriers' misery was complete when Snedker failed to deal with a free-kick by Anderson whose late winner left the hosts needing a miracle to avoid relegation.

Gordon said: "We've conceded a rubbish goal and our goalkeeper has apologised because it was a huge mistake.

"We didn't play well, but we were still in the game and we did our jobs. It's just soul destroying for all of us."