Torquay United 1
Kidderminster Harriers 0

HARRIERS more than matched the cream of Devon but left with a sour taste in their mouth after being edged out by a solitary goal on Saturday.

Frustratingly for the Aggborough side this was a case of so close, yet so far as they went down to Mark Ellis' solitary strike.

Harriers did not outplay Torquay, that was never going to happen against a team that has now won 11 of its 14 home games this season, but in a scrappy game they did not look a million miles away from an outfit 11 places and 20 points above them in the table.

It was also frustrating for the Harriers fans, who once again saw their side raise its game against one of the division's better sides but ultimately come up short.

The visitors rarely looked troubled by the lethal strike force of Tim Sills (14) and Chris Zebroski (12), while the fledgling central defensive partnership of Mark Creighton and Lukes Jones continued to show genuine promise.

Jones, on-loan from Shrewsbury, has settled into the side quickly and was cool and authoritative alongside the towering stand-in captain, who was utterly dominant throughout.

Manager Mark Yates (read reaction) made three changes from the side that was held by Northwich Victoria in the previous game.

With Russ Penn out with a knee injury Dean Bennett was drafted in and given the job of supporting loan striker Iyseden Christie.

Brian Smikle and Gavin Hurren (listen to interview) were handed rare starts as the manager opted for a 4-5-1 formation to try and stifle high-scoring Torquay, while new additions Darryl Knights and Matthew Bailey were dropped to the bench.

It was a cautious team choice with the management banking on matching the host's size and power, while trying to soak up the pressure and hit the Gulls on the break.

The tactic worked partially, with Harriers solid in defence but offering very little going forward.

The hosts started brightly, with the pacey Zebroski speeding past Jeff Kenna in the second minute and delivering a dangerous cross that Creighton cut out.

But Jeff Kenna set the tone for Harriers' uncompromising stance when he stopped the winger in his tracks with a crunching tackle a minute later.

While the hosts were largely shackled new signing striker Roscoe D'Sane buzzed around for an opening and pounced on a loose ball in the 22nd minute but Creighton blocked his shot.

Going forward Harriers couldn't find a killer pass and Christie looked isolated on his own up front. The striker tried all of his tricks and flicks to prise open Torquay but the home defence largely read it well.

The best chance of the half fell to Bennett late on when he raced onto Smikle's through ball but dragged his shot across goal.

The visitors were punished for the miss, and a moment of sleepy defending, in the 48th minute when Torquay edged ahead.

Harriers failed to clear a Kevin Nicholson's short corner and D'Sane fired in a low cross/shot that on-loan Bolton defender Mark Ellis fired past keeper Chris MacKenzie.

To the visitor's credit they came out determined and Christie was denied a leveller in the 52nd minute by keeper Michael Poke.

The big striker controlled Simon Russell's cushioned pass to him in the box, held off Chris Todd and squeezed in a snap-shot that the on-loan Southampton stopper instinctively blocked with his legs.

Harriers continued to be the better side in a disjointed second half, while hemmed in Torquay struggled to find their fluency.

Sensing his team were in charge Yates replaced Russell with striker Matthew Barnes-Homer in the 56th minute in a bid to increase his team's threat.

The young forward almost set up Christie for the winner when he muscled Todd off the ball and slipped in his strike partner, who did the hard part by riding Nicholson's tackle only to blaze over.

Substitute striker Darryl Knights almost pounced on Poke's goal-kick, which had been chased down by the striker, but he was blocked by Todd.

The hosts improved late on and substitute Lee Phillips forced Chris MacKenzie into a diving save.

Sills was taken off with a rib injury in the game's dying moments after he had been stopped in his tracks by the mighty Creighton.

Torquay's top-scorer ran into the box but looked dazed and confused after he bounced off the Harriers man's imposing frame and was replaced by Matt Hockley.

At the full-time whistle Harriers' players walked off pleased with their performance but the result will be chalked up as the one that got away.

Harriers: MacKenzie 6, Kenna 6, Jones 7, Creighton 7, Jeannin 6, Smikle 6 (Knights, 69), Russell 6 (Barnes-Homer, 56, 6), Ferrell 6, Hurren 6 (Bailey, 80), Bennett 6, Christie 5.

Torquay: Poke; Nicholson; Todd; Mansell; Sills (Hockley, 94); Hargreaves; D'sane (Phillips, 55); Mohamed (Bedeau, 76); Adams; Ellis; Zebroski. Referee: S A Hooper, Attendance: 3,012.