Weymouth 1
Harriers 2

FORTUNE at both ends of the pitch helped Harriers to earn their first away win of the season in Dorset on Saturday.

Substitute Darryl Knights’ 93rd minute deflected strike ended the Aggbrough side’s six-game wait for an away win in the Blue Square Premier and their hoodoo against the Terras.

But while there is no doubting that Mark Yates’ troops deserved all three points their for dedication and sheer bloodymindedness with a backs-to-the-wall display, Harriers needed a large slice of luck to win the match.

The visitors were indebted to some excellent saves from keeper Adam Bartlett and a horrendous point-blank miss by Weymouth hitman Michael Malcolm.

Harriers winger Brian Smikle squandered a good early chance when he headed a cross from Martin Brittain wide.

But Harriers’ defensive jitters away from home struck again when they fell asleep in the 14th minute and allowed Weymouth to take the lead.

The back four were caught out by a goal-kick and striker Pierre Joseph-Dubois beat the offside trap to scamper free and slot the ball beyond Bartlett.

Unlike last season, when Harriers may have melted after such a soft goal, they responded almost instantly and Justin Richards bagged an excellent 21st minute leveller.

The big forward picked up the ball on the right 25-yards out, left Anthony Williams for dead and rifled the ball into the back of the net to get Harriers back on track.

The hitman had a tough scoring chance near the end of the first half but shot over from a tight angle.

The away fans breathed a sigh of relief just before half-time after a terrible miss that will give Malcolm nightmares.

Bartlett had spilled a routine cross by Kevin Sandwith in the box and Chris McPhee’s heavy touch directed the ball goalwards.

But the keeper’s blushes were spared when the greedy forward popped up and diverted the ball wide of the bottom right post from from just a few yards out.

The miss spurred the home side on even more and they pegged Harriers back in their own half, with Malcolm and Joseph-Dubois’s pace and movement troubling the visitors.

Harriers did not help their own cause, as the back four dropped deeper and deeper and allowed the lively duo too much space.

But Bartlett, who looked determined to make up for his error, was in defiant form and he got down well to block Joseph-Dubois’s low goalbound effort in the 52nd minute.

A good chance fell to Harriers striker Matthew Barnes-Homer after Weymouth failed to clear a corner, but shot-stopper Richard Barnard produced a fine point-blank save.

As the hosts cranked up the pressure Harriers found themselves holding on for a point with Bartlett denying McPhee and Anthony Williams.

The keeper then made it a personal battle with Malcolm, tipping over the forward’s looping effort.

He then produced more heroics from the corner, parrying shots from McPhee and Joseph-Dubois, before Andy Ferrell blocked another effort on the line.

Bartlett got a hand to Joseph-Dubois’s low strike as the away side creaked under the pressure.

The turning point came late on in controversial style after Barnes-Homer had set Richards running free on goal.

It took sliding blocks by Barnard and Sandwith, who was injured for his troubles, to deny Harriers’ top-scorer.

Weymouth failed to clear the danger and substitute David McDermott slipped the ball to Knights in the right side of the box, and his low shot ricocheted off a Weymouth player and bobbled into the back of the net.

Weymouth’s fans erupted in anger at referee Brendan Malone, who had waved play on despite the injury to Sandwith, who had only just got to his feet when Harrers’ match-winner struck.

The goal was jammier than a bumper triple pack of donuts but Harriers and their fans, who were noisy throughout, didn’t care as they drove up the M5 with all three points.

Harriers: Bartlett 8; Lowe 7; Creighton 7; Jones 7; Baker 7; Ferrell 6; Brittain 6 (McDermott, 80); Penn 6; Richards 7; Barnes-Homer 7; Smikle 6 (Knights, 60).

Weymouth: Barnard; Mawer; Doe; Gaia (Cutler, 46); Sandwith; Williams; Reed; Robinson; Malcolm; McPhee; Joseph-Dubois. Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire). Attendance: 1,014

LISTEN TO REACTION FROM ADAM BARTLETT AND DARRYL KNIGHTS OR READ MARK YATES'S THOUGHTS ON GAME.