Stevenage 2
Harriers 1

BATTLING Harriers were unlucky to leave Hertfordshire pointless after an action-packed game at Broadhall Way on Thursday night.

The visitors matched Peter Taylor's promotion chasers but paid the price for some poor defending and bad luck in front of goal.

Harriers manager Mark Yates (read match reaction) handed the versatile Gavin Hurren his first start in 11 games after on-loan centreback Luke Jones was recalled by Shrewsbury Town at 5pm.

But the Aggborough boss stuck with the attacking 4-3-3 formation that won the last two games, with Matthew Barnes-Homer, Iyseden Christie and Darryl Knights up front.

After an evenly matched opening period an error by the under-cooked Hurren allowed Steve Morison to score in the 15th minute.

Hurren tried to play the ball out of the visitor's half but Morison, who broke Harriers' hearts by scoring in last May's FA Trophy loss to Borough, pounced on the loose pass and slotted the ball under keeper Chris MacKenzie.

Stevenage tried to press home their advantage in the following minutes but MacKenzie kept them at bay.

First he palmed Mitchell Cole's looping shot from the edge of the box away, before dving full-stretch to push away Morison's angled drive,after a firm tackle by Mark Creighton had stopped Gavin Grant in his tracks.

Harriers tried to battle back into the game but despite seeing a lot of the ball struggled to open up the hosts.

Barnes-Homer and Simon Russell shot off target from 25-yards out, while Christie saw an effort blocked by Scott Laird.

Harriers came out determined to get back into the game in the second half and Christie's tenacity forced a 52nd minute leveller.

The big striker did well to spin in the box, force his way through and slot a shot under keeper Alan Julian.

The visitors lived dangerously after scoring and Stevenage piled on the pressure. MacKenzie did well to save Grant's goal bound effort minutes later.

The Stevenage forward then wasted a good chance to score when he blazed Cole's cross over the bar.

Barnes-Homer also saw an effort cleared away by Ashley Westwood, after he had slipped the ball past Julian, who rushed out to try and get the ball.

Harriers were under the cosh and Hurren cleared Grant's shot off the line but the visitor's resistance was broken in the 72nd minute, when the forward got in behind the away side's defence and fired in a shot which deflected off Creighton into the back of the net.

The visitors roared back into the game and left Stevenage's defence rocking but could not find a way through.

The impressive Russell saw a great effort come off the bar in the dying minutes, while Barnes-Homer and Christie saw efforts blocked in a chaotic 90th minute.

Listen to a podcast of Russell, who reflects on his own form and the defeat to Stevenage.

Harriers: MacKenzie 7; Kenna 6; Hurren 5; Creighton 6; RUSSELL 8; Penn 6; Bennett 6; Barnes-Homer 6; Jeannin 6; Christie 7; Knights 6 (McGrath, 73).
Stevenage: Julian; Smith; Westwood; Cole (Mosesley, 77); Wilson; McMahon; Moore (Willock, 64); Morison; Laird; Vincenti; Grant. Referee: B Malone. Attendance: 1,326.