Barnet 1, Harriers 0

HARRIERS suffered their first defeat in nine games but it was the situation surrounding manager Steve Burr which was the real talking point on Saturday.

Luisma Villa’s goal was the difference in a match which the Aggborough men controlled for long periods without truly demonstrating any cutting edge.

There was no lack of effort or commitment by Harriers’ players, who put in another solid shift despite the distraction of Burr’s absence.

The manager had been asked by the club to stay away from Barnet after he had requested on Friday permission to talk to Harriers’ Skrill Premier rivals Forest Green Rovers over their vacant hot-seat.

Rumours were rife Burr was at Forest Green’s home game against Dartford or watching League Two side Burton Albion but Burr’s absence was on everyone’s mind.

His capable assistant Gary Whild, supported by academy boss Steve Guinan, took charge and the former felt Harriers had deserved a goal.

“I didn’t think we could do any more in terms of effort and attitude,” said Whild.

“We had four strikers on at the end and it was just one of those days.”

The eerily subdued atmosphere wasn’t helped by Barnet’s new state of the art home, The Hive, which like many freshly built stadiums felt a wind swept and soulless stadium.

Harriers sat back too deep in the first quarter of the match and invited Edgar Davids’ neat footballing side onto them.

Keanu Marsh-Brown shot over the bar after a mazy run to signal the host’s attacking intent.

Their breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Villa pounced on uncertain defending from a Keiron Cadogan corner to score a scrappy goal.

Falling behind sparked Kidderminster into life and Michael Gash headed over the bar from a Mickey Demetriou cross for their best chance of the game 10 minutes later.

Harriers continued to push but they struggled to truly test Bees keeper Graham Stack.

Substitute Joe Lolley saw a decent shot pushed behind by the keeper.

At the other end, Danny Lewis had already tipped over an effort from Harry Crawford.

The game was delayed for nearly 10 minutes mid-way through the second-half when winger Marvin Johnson was stretchered off with a back injury, and was replaced by Lolley.

Luckily the winger’s injury turned out to be not as bad as first feared.

Villa, who was Barnet’s most dangerous player, saw his day spoiled late on in injury time when he was shown a red card for a second bookable offence.

Harriers: Lewis 7, L Vaughan 6, Demetriou 7, Gowling 6, Grimes 6, Fowler 6, STORER 8, Jackman 7 (Malbon 60), Gash 7, Dance 6 (Morgan-Smith 78), Johnson 6 (Lolley 72nd). Subs not used: N Vaughan, Gittings.

Barnet: Stack, Yiadom, Marsh-Brown (Mengrrink 90+3), Saville, Byrne (Acheampong 90+1), Abdulla, Cadogan, Villa, Vilnere, Stephens, Lopez (Crawford 16). Subs not used: Johnson, Jupp.

Referee: Robert Whitton.

Attendance: 1,557 (243)