Barnes-Homer strike seals win

Matthew Barnes-Homer's late strike ensured that the home side secured all three points in a topsy-turvy encounter.

However, in a match they dominated some sloppy defending had allowed the North East side to give them a fright.

The hosts had fallen behind early on, before an own goal from Chris Swailes got them back in the game.

Brian Smikle fired Harriers ahead but slack marking allowed Kris Gate to bag a spectular Gateshead leveller against the run of play.

But just when the match looked as though it was going to end in a draw, Barnes-Homer pounced on a defensive error to bag an 80th minute winner.

Centreback Gavin Caines (ankle) and midfielder Dean Bennett (sore toe) both overcame injuries to be picked for Harriers' starting line-up, as manager Mark Yates selected the same side that drew 1-1 at Histon last week.

Former Harriers winger Martin Brittain was also present at the game on crutches, after suffering double leg break that ruled him out for the rest of the Blue Square Premier campaign.

The 24-year-old was given a rousing round of applause by the home fans, who had only just started to come through the turnstyles, for his excellent service to the club last season.

Harriers went into the match aiming to improve their erratic record this season at Aggborough, where they had won three and lost two.

The match started cagily and the first attempt on goal by any side came in the sixth minute, after Dean Bennett had fouled Craig Baxter. From 30-yards out, Gateshead's Alex Francis saw a low shot fly off target.

Francis handed the visitors the lead in the 12th minute. Martin Riley conceded a free-kick on the left wing when he brought down Graeme Armstrong.

The Gateshead midifelder whipped in a dangerous chest height delivery that flew past a static Dean Coleman in goal, who had been left unsighted by towering hitman Armand One.

Stunned by the away side's strike, Harriers needed several minutes to get back into their stride but then started to crank the pressure on the North East outfit.

The hosts suffered a setback when Bennett limped off injured in the 19th minute and was replaced by rookie midfielder Nathan Bennett.

Barnes-Homer tested keeper Jim Provett with two efforts, while David McDermott stung the shot-stopper's palms with a powerful 30-yard piledriver.

The pacey forward created the breakthrough when he raced down the right wing and delivered a dangerous cross, which visting defender Swailes headed emphatically into the top corner in the 25th minute.

Barnes-Homer could have put the home side ahead two minutes later, when McDemott's low cross picked him out in the box. The forward had time to select his spot but blazed over the bar from eight-yards out.

Harriers continued to press and once again the striker played an important role, when he controlled Darryl Knights' pass with his back to goal, spun smartly and unsettled his marker.

The ball broke off the forward and Brian Smikle nipped and slotted a shot beyond the keeper.

The home side almost added third when Knights' shot took a deflection and Chris McPhee's follow-up came off the post in the 45th minute.

Gateshead manager Ian Bogie, who used to play for Harriers, made a double change at the start of the second half in a bid to give his side a boost.

A tiring One was replaced by Wayne Phillips, while right-back Baxter came off for Neale McDermott.

But it was Harriers who continued to look the more likely to score.

McPhee saw a goal-bound header blocked by Chris Swailes. Gateshead stopper was then booked for a crunching tackle on Harriers' skipper moments later.

Barnes-Homer was a constant menace to the visiting defence and shot across the face of goal after good work by the spritely Knights.

Harriers pressure forced panic in Gateshead's area in the 56th minute, when the ball came Barnes-Homer in the box but he was quickly closed down by the visiting defence.

But plucky Gateshead levelled the scores against the run of play in the 63rd minute.

The hosts failed to deal with a corner and Gateshead skipper Gate smashed a 15-yard volley past a stunned Coleman.

Striker Michael Mackay could have piled more woe on the host minutes later but he dragged his shot wide.

At the other end, left-back Lee Baker showed good ambition to exchange passes with Barnes-Homer on the edge of the box but screw his shot wide.

To pep up his side, Yates took off McDermott and brought on the direct Kyle Hadley in the 75th minute.

But the home team had another slice of luck when Barnes-Homer took advantage of more suicidal Gateshead defending late on.

Coleman's long kick forward caused Gateshead's back four all sorts of problems and the striker shrugged off Mark Robinson in the box to slot the ball past Provett.

Knights could have added a fourth Harriers goal when Barnes-Homer chested the ball down to him, but he flashed a low shot just wide of goal.

Harriers: Coleman 6; Courtney 6; Caines 6; Riley 6; Baker 7; McDermott 6 (Hadley, 75); Bennett 5 (Hayward, 19, 7); Smikle 6; Knights 8 (Farrell, 92); Barnes-Homer 8; McPhee.

Unused substitutes: Dolman; Sharpe.

Gateshead: Provett; Baxter (N McDermott, 46); Robinson; Gate; Turnbull; Armstrong; Francis (Harwood, 67); Swailes; Cave; Mackay; One (Phillips, 46).

Unused substitutes: Farman; Forsyth.

Referee: David Bond (Lancs). Attendance: 1,286 (12)