Harriers knocked back at the Bay

Mark Yates' Harriers fell to only their second League defeat today since he took over the reigns from Stuart Watkiss.    There was never really much hope of getting more than one point at the play-off hopefuls Christie Park ground but once they had gone behind to a Michael Twiss goal they never had the strike power needed to claw that point back.

Terry Fleming returned to the side following his suspension and Michael Blackwood made the starting line-up this week after sitting on the bench at Forest Green last week.    Jake Sedgemore was notable by his absence from the team but could be found in the press room commenting on the game for Hereford Worcester radio.    He also mentioned that it had been planned that he would miss the game in an effort to recover from a long term injury and now that Wayne Graves was fit he could do so.    Wayne who?

It was expected, before the game, that the spearhead of our attack would be Lee Thompson and Francino Francis but yet again Frankie got pushed onto the bench in favour of Super Gareth Sheldon.    Also on the bench was the new signing, from Burnley in a roundabout way, Cayne Hanley.

Morecambe had Adrian Rigoglioso back at Christie Park on loan from Doncaster Rovers after he left the club three years ago.    Garry Thompson, for the hosts, had the first chance of the game on ten minutes with a long range effort that was sent careening wide of John Danby's goal.

We had a chance to open the scoring ourselves soon after when Sheldon sent one chance begging as he fired high over the bar, and again a few minutes later when he made a mess of a layoff from Lee Thompson in front of goal that he should have buried easily with a bit more accuracy.

On the half hour the Shrimps took the lead.   A cross from the right deflected off Danny Carlton and fell kindly for Michael Twiss who turned in the box and hit a left footed shot into the back of the net.

Minutes before the teams went off for half time Gavin Hurren had a header on goal that was easily stopped by Morecambes keeper Drench.