Sparkling Harriers are toast of coast

Harriers survived a second half fight back by the newly promoted side to grab a fourth straight victory in the Blue Square Premier.

The win was also enough to elevate Harriers to second in table, leaving them just three points behind table-toppers Crawley Town.

But while Harriers are deservedly setting the pace in the league after just one defeat in the last nine outings, Saturday’s performance demonstrated that Yates’ inexperienced side still have some lessons to learn.

For 45 minutes, they produced their best football of the season, with a controlled display that left Eastbourne’s defence chasing shadows.

But their over-exuberance going forward almost cost them in the second half, when two Eastbourne goals gave them a fright.

For Harriers, familiarity breeds content, as Yates picked the same starting line-up for the seventh game in a row.

The continuity is certainly paying off as players begin to know each other’s game, particularly with the attacking trio of Brian Smikle, Justin Richards and Matthew Barnes-Homer.

The threesome’s pace, understanding and movement had Eastbourne’s ponderous back four convinced they were stuck in the Bermuda Triangle, not on the English coastline.

The home side had the first shot on goal when Paul Armstrong fizzed a free-kick wide, but from then on Harriers dictated the play and did not allow Eastbourne any dangerous penetration.

Richards got the ball rolling with his eighth goal of the season in the 13th minute with a beautiful finish only rivalled by the move that set him up.

Barnes-Homer’s clever diagonal pass allowed Brian Smikle to run in behind Eastbourne’s defence and pull-back the ball to Harriers’ top scorer, who rifled a first-time volley into the back of the net.

Richards was pivotal to all of Harriers’ best moments and he flicked Martin Brittain’s cross to Russ Penn in the box minutes later, but with just keeper Lee Hook to beat he side-footed wide.

Harriers seemed to be able to slice open Eastbourne at will and after more good work by Barnes-Homer, Richards shot straight at Hook.

The hosts were reduced to long range pot-shots and Eastbourne right back Ben Austin was allowed to motor forward but guided his 30-yard effort off target.

Barnes-Homer saw a header blocked and moments later was stopped by Neil Jenkins’ firm last-ditch challenge, as the visitors kept the pressure on The Sports.

But a deserved second goal came in the 37th minute thanks to in-form winger Brian Smikle.

The 22-year-old has added intelligent movement and deadly finishing to his non-stop running game and he buried a diving header in the back of the net after another whipped in delivery from Brittain.

Harriers started the second half with the same purpose and Penn was a fraction off target after Eastbourne failed to clear a corner.

But the visitor’s enthusiasm for more goals saw them starting to give the ball away and offer Eastbourne too much encouragement going forward.

There still looked little danger but the home side pulled a goal back, when striker Andy Atkin glanced a header into the back of the net in the 59th minute.

Harriers though hit back almost immediately, with Barnes-Homer forcing a fine save from Hook.

Midfield terrier Andy Ferrell grabbed his second ever goal for the club, and first from open play, when his low 20-yard effort flashed through a crowded box and flew past Hook in the 61st minute.

The visitors should have killed the game off but a great chance was wasted when Penn opted to pass to an offside Barnes-Homer, instead of shooting with just the keeper to beat.

The striker, who had struggled to stay on-side throughout, finished from close range but the effort was rightly ruled out.

Late drama was ensured when substitute Nathan Crabb’s cross from the right set up older brother Matt for a 69th minute, to increase the home team’s self-belief.

Harriers’ defence stood up to the barrage of free-kicks and crosses, with Mark Creighton and Luke Jones making several timely challenges.

The hosts could not take their chances, with towering defender Marc Pullan heading wide, while Simon Wormull’s late effort was blocked.

Substitute Darryl Knights had a chance to score late on after being set up by substitute Neil MacKenzie, but Hook was equal to his shot in the final minute.

Harriers: Bartlett 7; Baker 6; Creighton 6; Jones 7; Lowe 6; Smikle 7 (Bennett, 89); Ferrell 7; Penn 6; Brittain 7 (MacKenzie, 81); Barnes-Homer 7 (Knights, 84); Richards 8.

Eastbourne: Hook; Armstrong; Atkin; Austin; Baker; Crabb; Jenkins; Lovett (N Crabb, 86); Pullan; Smart (Wormull, 66); Tait (Harding, 66).

Referee: K Yeo. Attendance: 1,248

LISTEN TO REACTION FROM THE GAME FROM NEIL MACKENZIE