Exeter 1
Harriers 0

HOPES of a saviour to end Harriers' away game woes came to nothing on Saturday as they were edged out by promotion-chasing Exeter in the Blue Square Premier.

The Aggborough side showed glimpses of their ability against the play-off hopefuls but faded in the second half to allow Exeter the spoils of victory.

Even worse, defeat meant Harriers have not won away from home in the league since stunning Burton Albion 2-0 at the start of November.

If they had taken their chances in the first half or at the end of a frenetic final period Harriers would have returned to Worcestershire with a point.

With strong winds driving them on, Harriers were bright in the first half and more than matched Exeter.

Barnes-Homer had a good chance to open the scoring when Ferrell whipped in a free-kick but Steve Tully blocked his effort in the 11th minute.

The visitors almost handed Exeter the lead with some nervy defending.

Hesitation by Mark Creighton and Gavin Hurren allowed Adam Stansfield to fire in a shot which hit the post.

Left-back Alex Jeannin almost scored an own goal when he tried to intercept Rob Edwards' hanging cross in the 14th minute.

Keeper Chris MacKenzie was poised to take the ball before Jeannin prodded it goal-wards, before racing back and clearing it to safety.

Harriers improved as the half wore on and Christie skipped past Matt Taylor and sent in a good cross, which the out of sorts Penn headed over at the far post.

Christie shot over the bar minutes later after keeper Andy Marriott had rushed out and missed Ferrell's hanging cross.

Minutes later the powerful striker came close to scoring but saw a low raking shot fly wide.

Dean Moxey and Wayne Carlisle shot over from 25-yards out for Exeter.

The visitors, playing into a fierce wind in the second half, struggled to get going and allowed Exeter to pile on the pressure.

Carlisle directed two headers onto the bar and keeper MacKenzie saved Matthew Gill's thundering shot.

MacKenzie was the sole reason that Harriers' kept the score down with a series of impressive saves.

It took a Gill thunderbolt in the 58th minute to beat Harriers' inspired keeper, when he raced past Jeannin and fired a volley into the back of the net.

MacKenzie kept the score at 1-0 when he tipped over Richard Logan's chip.

Gradually the away side battled back into the game and carved out three great chances to level the scores late on.

Simon Russell should have done better when he shot at the grounded Marriott in the 82nd minute.

The keeper denied Christie from close range in the 90th minute, while substitute Knights had a rush of blood to the head and shot over the bar at the far post from a corner.

See picture gallery from the Exeter clash or read Mark Yates' reaction.

Harriers: MACKENZIE 8; Kenna 7; Hurren 6; Creighton 6; Russell 7; Penn 6 b(McGrathh, 85); Ferrell 6 (Smikle, 88); Bennett 6; Barnes-Homer 6 (Knights, 72); Jeannin 6; Christie 6.

Exeter: Marriott; Tully; Gill; Seaborne; Taylor; Stansfield (Basham, 59); Carlisle; Edwards; Taylor; Logan; Moxey. Referee: D Phillips. Attendance: 3,812.