HARRIERS lost key momentum in the National League survival race as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Woking courtesy of a 90th minute winner.

The visitors were ahead early through Jack Lambert’s second in as many games, but came undone with a Woking double inside the final 15 minutes, handing Phil Brown a first away league defeat.

There was a blow to Harriers as the team news was announced. In-form defender Alex Penny was ruled out of the clash through illness, his place in the side taken by Cole Kpekawa who came in for his first appearance since signing on loan from Bromley.

Brown was already without the services of the suspended Krystian Pearce following his sending off against Solihull, and he was replaced by Nat Knight-Percival, who made a first league start since September. There was at least better news in the form of skipper Shane Byrne’s return from injury.

Harriers survived something of a scare with just six minutes played when the home side had the ball in the net but, as very early sub Ricky Korboa finished from close range, the effort was chalked off for offside.

That enabled the visitors to breathe a notable sigh of relief. They went close themselves just a minute later when Caleb Richards let fly from distance, Will Jaaskelainen in good form to beat the ball away and deny him.

There was no denying Harriers and Lambert four minutes later, though. His fourth goal of the season arrived as an Ashley Hemmings corner caused unease in the home defence, Lambert’s cross-shot looping over the goalkeeper and nestling into the far corner.

With another Lambert effort over and Zak Brown’s low shot being saved, Harriers tried to keep the Woking goal ticking over, Lambert having an effort held by Jaaskelainen soon after before he turned provider to Morgan-Smith whose deft near-post flick was also kept out.

Past the hour, Hemmings stood a cross up perfectly for Richards who missed a decisive contact by mere inches, a decisive few minutes following soon after.

Christian Dibble extended himself superbly to turn away Woking sub Luker’s effort as it bent in towards the top corner, before his opposite number did likewise to keep out a firmly struck free kick by Lambert.

Within two minutes of that save, Woking were level when the influential Curtis Edwards drove a free kick at Dibble who saw the ball squeeze beneath him and into the net.

If the Harriers custodian wanted to atone for that he did so as the game ticked into injury time and Knight-Percival was penalised for a foul in the area. Charlie Kendall stepped up from 12 yards, but Dibble superbly saved the effort – only for Kendall to dive at the rebound to head it home and seal a dramatic comeback for the Cards.

Harriers are finally back on home soil this weekend with the visit of York City to Aggborough Stadium.