Harriers defeated at the Shay

The Harriers dropped back down towards the Conference relegation zone tonight after conceding a goal in each half to a Halifax side also struggling to win games.    Their chance came tonight and they took it eagerly.

Only having won once at home this season, following the last two seasons ending in the play offs, their fans were starting to get restless and looking for the head of the manager Chris Wilder.    He had already walked out on them once this season when he was offered the Cambridge Utd job but had second thoughts about it and returned to the Shay.

With results not going the way he had hoped tonight was the best chance they would have in a long time with the visit of the mighty Harriers.

We had Russ Penn back for us after serving a one match ban for yellow cards - and it didn't take long for him to start his collection once more - replacing Jamie McClen who didn't even make it to the bench.    Brian Smikle started the game against his former club with Michael Blackwood dropping out to accommodate him.

It was the Harriers that were to start the game strongly with the first fifteen minutes of the first half played at a blistering pace by the visitors - reminiscent of the way we have played in our three previous games - but possession means nothing if you can't score goals.

Mark Creighton, Simon Russell and Iyseden Christie could all have opened the scoring for us but the Halifax goal was leading a charmed life with blocks on the line and saves by the keeper with his knee.

Slowly Town got into the game and the Harriers faded back into their shell.    The former Cardiff City striker, Andy Campbell, almost opened the scoring for his side but was pulled up by the linesman's flag after getting a chance to open the scoring but it wasn't long before he did.    Danny Forrest forced Jonny Harkness into a mistake and, with the rest of our defenders backing off, he slipped the ball through to Campbell to finish the move off from close range.

Forrest then left Harkness for dead again a few minutes later and also deceived Mark Creighton with his pace to feed the ball through to Tom Kearney but his shots was blocked on the line.

With the first forty five minutes almost done a brawl started in the middle of the pitch following a lunging tackle on Martin Foster by Gavin Hurren.    With almost all the players getting involved it was Russ Penn that found himself in the book yet again after running across the pitch to give his penny worth and then running after the ref to tell him what a wonderful job he was doing.

Does the thicko ever learn?