Harriers 3
Oxford 1

ROBBIE Matthews bagged a brace as impressive Harriers shot down the Blue Square Premier's runaway leaders at Aggborough on Saturday.

A goal in each half from Matthews and a super-strike by strike partner Matthew Barnes-Homer stunned the U's.

Despite a goal for former Harriers James Constable from the penalty spot, Oxford were second best.

Three points for the home side was well-deserved in a full-blooded encounter which saw eight players booked and Oxford's Steven Kinniburgh sent off late on.

Harriers, who were already missing the suspended Lee Baker and Chris McPhee, were dealt another blow when the experienced John Finnigan pulled out through injury.

That meant Dean Bennett took the central role and the captain's armband in midfield. In defence, on-loan Peterborough left-back Daniel Andrew made his home debut after an impressive performance in the loss at Cambridge a fortnight ago.

Oxford came to Aggborough with an impressive squad containing a quartet of former Harriers players.

As well as goalkeeper Ryan Clarke and midfielder Adam Murray, former skipper Mark Creighton made the first return to Aggborough since his move to the U's in the summer.

Another familliar face for the home fans was Constable, who scored an impressive 23 goals in 52 games for Harriers, who was leading Oxford's line on his own.

The home fans were outnumbered by Oxford's 2,000 strong travelling army but they were silenced when Harriers went ahead inside the second minute.

Darryl Knights started the attack when he slipped the ball down to Barnes-Homer on the left.

The striker returned the ball to Knights but as he turned to shoot, it broke off Luke Foster and fell to Matthews, who slotted the ball into the back of the net.

There was danger for the hosts in the 11th minute when Constable raced onto Murray's pass but as he cut into the box Andrew kept cool and won the ball.

But the hitman was kicking himself after he had a hand in Harriers' second goal in the 16th minute.

Constable foolishly fouled Martin Riley 30-yards out from Oxford's goal and Barnes-Homer made him pay when his thunderbolt flew into the back of the net and silenced the away fans behind the goal.

Harriers' neat passing was frustrating Oxford and Adam Murray was booked for a high challenge on Duane Courtney in the 19th minute.

But the Conference leaders got back into the game in the 29th minute, when keeper Dean Coleman was adjudged to have brought down Sam Deering. While the decision looked a little harsh, Constable slammed the resulting spot-kick to the left of the shot-stopper.

Creighton was shown a yellow card in the 35th minute for a high challenge that left Matthews sprawled on the pitch.

As both sides pushed for a goal the match developed into an end-to-end affair and chances went begging at each end.

Andrew was Johnny on the spot as he cleared Luke Foster's header off the line from a Simon Clist corner and the home side launched a counter-attack which saw Brian Smikle denied by Clarke.

Matthews restored Harriers' two-goal lead in the 52nd minute when he slotted a close-range effort underneath Clarke.

Oxford boss Chris Wilder took off Deering and brought on hitman Jack Midson, who almost made an immediate impact as he sped down the right wing and was fouled by Riley, who was shown a yellow card.

Matthews looked determined to bag a hat-trick and a barn-storming run to the edge of Oxford's box, which left Foster for dead, came to nothing. Instead, the hitman was booked for barging into a defender.

Harriers had a chance to put the game beyond Oxford when Kinniburgh brought down Barnes-Homer in the 75th minute.

The Oxford man was shown a straight red card but Clarke dived to his right to save Matthews' penalty, while Smikle's follow-up flew wide.

Despite being a man down, Oxford probed for a lifeline and Coleman had to be alert in the 85th minute when he tipped over Adam Chapman's free-kick.

But the well-marshalled hosts held off the U's to record their best result of the season and inflict only Oxford's second defeat of the season.

Harriers: Coleman 6; Courtney 7; Caines 7; Riley 7; Bennett 6; Barnes-Homer 7 (Farrell, 93); Knights 7 (Hayward, 93); McDermott 7; (Dolman, 90) Smikle 7; Matthews 8; Andrew 7.

Unused substitutes: Singh; Sharpe. Oxford: Clarke; Batt; Bulman; Foster; Creighton; Murray (Kelly, 67); Constable; Clist; Deering (Midson, 60); Kinniburgh; Green (Chapman, 82).

Unused: Turley; Day.

Referee: Michael Naylor (Sheffield). Attendance: 3,569 (2,009)