Bloods clots watch promotion slip away

This was supposed to be the game that would see the Aggborough side's aspirations of reaching the play-offs finally catch light.

Instead it looks as though a miracle is needed for Harriers to escape the shackles of mid-table mediocrity and break into the play-offs, after failing to score against a leaky Bloods backline, which had conceded 72 league goals.

This was a performance which lacked spirit, the appetite to win, self-belief and most worrying the intelligence to open up the worst defence in the league.

While there are 18 games left for Harriers to undergo a recovery, the fall-out from this game could have a dramatic effect on the rest of Harriers' erratic campaign.

The anaemic display will have left the players' confidence at rock bottom and it was also the final straw for Harriers' frustrated fans.

After watching their team's inability to threaten a leaky defence, which had conceded ten goals in the previous two games, the supporters turned on the team and management and chanted you don't know what you're doing' at the end of the game.

Before kick-off manager Mark Yates had called for a response from his troops after the mid-week exit from the FA Trophy against Weymouth.

It's been a familiar rallying cry as Harriers go through the unending cycle of disaster and redemption, but this time they could not deliver.

Manchester has not been a happy hunting ground this season with a draw at Northwich Victoria and loss to Altrincham leaving bitter tastes in the mouth.

Unfortunately there was very little for the away fans to sink their teeth into at Droylsden's Butchers Arms ground.

Yates handed left-back Alex Jeannin, who joined the club on-loan from Oxford United until the end of the season, his debut.

The French player was the sole highlight in another otherwise below-part performance by Harriers, with his dangerous delivery from set-pieces and willingness to get forward eye-catching.

It was the hosts who started brightly as sluggish Harriers still looked as though they had not recovered from their departure from the Trophy.

The hosts showed no ill-effects from heavy defeats to Cambridge and Stevenage Borough, with lively striker Jody Banim and winger Ashley Burbeary running at Harriers' shaky defence at will.

Banim may look stocky but he still had the pace enough to trouble the visitors' defence and grabbed the game's only goal.

Jeannin blotted a fine debut when he gave the livewire forward too much space on the edge of the box, which allowed him to lash a low shot past keeper Scott Bevan in the 15th minute.

Harriers could have conceded a second. Defender Mark Creighton denied lanky striker Steve Daly, as he powered past flimsy challenges with a well-timed tackle a minute later. The towering centre-back was at full stretch to beat Daly to Banim's teasing cross as The Bloods tried to inflict more wounds on the visitors.

The away side struggled with the host's robust approach and could not get to grips in midfield.

Andy Ferrell and Dean Bennett lacked bite and missed the directness of the injured Russ Penn, who watched in disbelief from the stands.

On the left wing Michael Blackwood looked totally bereft of confidence and failed to penetrate the home defence.

Jeannin fired in a low 20-yard shot, which was well held by keeper Paul Phillips in the 34th minute.

He then angled a dipping volley just wide of the left post after the hosts had failed to clear their lines in the 40th minute.

Banim forced Bevan into a fine save on the stroke of half-time, after Colin Cryan's long pass had ricocheted off Creighton to play the hitman onside.

Harriers huffed and puffed in front of goal, with the strike partnership of James Constable and Iyseden Christie struggling without service and out fought by The Bloods' defence.

Droylsden still looked the more likely to score and Bevan did well to save Jamie McGuire's 50th minute volley.

A good chance fell to Harriers captain Stuart Whitehead in the 66th minute but the unmarked defender header Jeannin's corner wide.

Yates replaced Paul Bignot with pacey young striker Matthew Barnes-Homer. The rookie's raw pace opened up Droylsden's defence but he could not produce the all-important killer pass.

Constable created a good chance for himself in the 78th minute when he controlled substitute Michael McGrath's angled ball on the edge of the box, spun quickly and fired in a low shot that the keeper saved at the post.

Once again the home side almost put the nail in the coffin when Banim sped past Creighton and fired in a shot that Bevan could only parry into the path of Conall Murtagh. Luckily for Harriers the midfielder mis-controlled the ball.

Jeannin saw an ambitious effort fly wide of the posts in the final minute but a leveller would have been harsh on Droylsden, who were the hungrier side throughout.

Unhappy Harriers supporters vented their frustration at the end, a hymn which could mourn the death of the team's promotion hopes this season.

Harriers: Bevan 6; Creighton 6; Whitehead 5; Russell 5 (McGrath, 63, 5); Constable 6; Blackwood 5 (Smikle, 55, 6); Ferrell 6; Bennett 5; JEANNIN 7; Christie 6; Bignot 5 (Barnes-Homer, 71).

Droylsden: Phillips; Roche; Cryan; Halford; Murphy; McGuire (Morris, 77); Murtagh; Mackin; Burbeary; Banim; Daly (Ellis, 78). Referee: Amy Rayner (Leic).

Attendance: 629.