Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 1 – 0 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER – Saturday 26 January 2008

Report by Gary Owen

Bloods' boss Dave Pace remained upbeat about his side's survival chances following this narrow victory at the Butcher's Arms.

"I believe we'll get out of it – I've said that all along. In fact, we can still mathematically win the league!"

"It was hard to lift the players on the back of two successive 5-0 defeats, but we showed a lot of character today. We worked hard, closed them down, and tried to play with the ball on the floor."

"The transfer window remains open – I've already brought a few players in, and two more will follow next week, with a possible third."

It was the game's first shot on target that brought the only goal. That was on fifteen minutes, when Droylsden's top scorer, Jody Banim collected the ball on the edge of the box before cutting inside his man and beating Scott Bevan with a left-footed drive low into the corner.

Steve Daly then headed over from a corner kick and Banim saw another shot blocked as the hosts began well.

Kidderminster then began to enjoy some good moments, but it was 34 minutes before Paul Phillips had a save to make, which was an easy one from Alex Jeannin's 30 yard effort.

Jeannin went close minutes later with a volley, but he was just a yard wide of the mark.

Droylsden almost doubled their lead before the break, but Bevan saved well at his near post from Banim, and it was Banim again who benefited from a good head down by Jamie McGuire, but Bevan was quick off his line to block.

Whilst Droylsden shaded matters in the first half, it was the Harriers who forced their hosts into a rearguard action for most of the second, although Phillips remained largely untested.

Stuart Whitehead was presented with a great opportunity on 66 minutes, but he headed wide when unmarked just 6 yards out from Jeannin's free kick.

At times, Droylsden broke out of their own half, and on one of those rare second half forays, Conall Murtagh saw his first time volley fly wide from Ashley Burbeary's cross.

Kidderminster continued to press, though, but there was no-one on hand to convert a low cross into the box by James Constable, and Phillips then saved at the second attempt from the Harriers striker. Banim almost made the game safe in the dying moments, but Bevan was equal to his shot from a tight angle, and Jeannin screwed wide at the other end as the Bloods held on to secure a precious three points.

Harriers manager Mark Yates was a man of few words afterwards. "I'm just so disappointed" was all he really had to say.

Harriers' ‘keeper, Scott Bevan acknowledged the fans' frustrations. "To come here and lose is very disappointing. Perhaps we were a little jaded from Tuesday, but we're professionals and we were just not good enough today – we lacked quality and at times we defended poorly."

TEAMS

Droylsden: Phillips, Roche, Cryan, Halford, Murphy, McGuire (Morris, 76'), Murtagh, Mackin, Burbeary, Daly (Ellis, 78'), Banim.

Subs. (not used): Denham, Murray, Taylforth.

Kidderminster Harriers: Bevan, Bignot (Barnes-Homer, 70'), Jeannin, Whitehead, Creighton, Bennett, Ferrell, Russell (McGrath, 63'), Blackwood (Smikle, 54'), Constable, Christie.

Subs not used: Hurren, Coleman

REFEREE: Ms. Amy Rayner (Loughborough, Leicestershire)

ATTENDANCE: 629