COACH Josh Gowling did not blame the boggy Aggborough pitch for yesterday’s 1-0 defeat to Southport.

Harriers were not at their best and Luke George’s spectacular 66th minute strike ensured the relegation battling Sandgrounders returned home with all three points.

The game only went ahead after hard work by the ground staff after the downpour on Boxing Day.

But the pitch was badly cut up and hampered the home team’s passing game.

With Worcester City also playing at Aggborough, the surface has already had a season’s worth of games on it and is suffering despite a relatively mild winter so far.

Harriers spent £50,000 on improving the drainage in the summer but the problem persists.

“We’re not happy with the performance, we had been unbeaten in four games but we didn’t really perform,” said Gowling.

“I know the groundsman and he is a great guy and he can only work with what he has got but if am honest that is the worst pitch in the league by a country mile.

“I haven’t played on a worst pitch this season.

He added: “It is just frustrating because we want to play football and we go Grimsby and Forest Green and the pitches are better and we get the result.

“It’s disappointing to come home and get a pitch like this and not being able to play the football people expect of us.

“Southport are quite direct and maybe the pitch has played to their strengths but both teams had to play on it and they scored a goal and we didn’t. We didn’t perform and it wasn’t acceptable.” Gowling also revealed he has torn a medial ligament and is set to be out for between three and four weeks.

Aman Verma and Callum Gittings are both doubts for their New Year’s Day clash against Forest Green Rovers (3pm ko).