A well struck goal from Simon Russell gained the Harriers all three points in a game that never really convinced anyone watching that we are a force to reckon with. The goal was the first shot on target for us and apart from a chance for Mullins a few minutes later that was about it for the entire game.
With Daryl Burgess missing again with an injury and Russell Penn out with flu it was time for another re-shuffle of the starting line-up. Junior Osborne and the returning Jonny Harkness took up the back row and Jake Sedgemore went into the middle with Gavin Hurren returning to the side after his loan spell at Bromsgrove finished last week.
We started the game in a more positive frame of mind than Crawley although some of our passing, mainly from Terry Fleming, was a bit too wayward at times and is something that needs to be looked at closely now that we seem to be putting a few results together. We tested the Town keeper with a couple of free kicks and a shot that went over the bar from Lee Thompson but then, slightly against the run of play, we grabbed the only goal of the game with a shot that went rasping into the Crawley net.
A quick one-two with Thompson set up Simon Russell nicely on the edge of the area and with the quickest of glances he sent the ball into the net from thirty yards out to leave the keeper rooted to the spot.
Johnny Mullins went close four minutes later but his header went just the wrong side of the goal.
Thompson also sent a shot just wide of the post after Andy White played the ball across the face of the goal and then with our next attack White had a valid penalty appeal waved away by the clearly in-competent referee. With Andy setting himself up for a shot he found himself being sent sprawling to the floor after being pushed in the back by Opinel but the idiot simply waved play on.