Burton 3
Harriers 2
Sentanta Shield third round

HARRIERS failed to progress in the Setanta Shield but manager Mark Yates must be confident his squad is in good shape for the rest of the season after some impressive performances by his fringe players.

Yates has emphasised how important his small squad is this season and his assertions that he has enough quality were backed up by this performance, if not the result.

Apart from some brittleness at set pieces that allowed an attacking Burton line-up to score twice from corners, Harriers bossed the game, looked good on the ball and defended solidly in open play.

In fact, Harriers’ manager will have food for thought on a number of players who have not featured much this season.

Former Walsall forward David McDermott and central midfielder Dean Bennett shone for the Aggborough side in an overall impressive display.

Yates made five changes from the Blue Square Premier win over Grays three days before, with Bennett, McDermott, keeper Dean Coleman, Darryl Knights, Michael Bowler and Stefan Moore getting their chance to shine.

The visitors were caught out by Jody Banim's corner in the sixth minute, when Shaun Harrad was given too much space to put Burton ahead with a near post header.

Harriers regrouped from the set back and dominated play, opening up Burton in the 11th minute.

Stefan Moore raced onto a through ball but was brought down by keeper Saul Deeney, who had rushed out of area and clipped the Harriers forward as he tried to round the shot-stopper.

Deeney was fortunate only to be shown a yellow card by referee Richard Madley, despite being the last man.

Harriers continued to boss the match and Bennett directed Knights’ cross over the bar.

McDermott showed determination to grab a leveller in the 25th minute. He cut in from the left, drove past Andy Corbett and saw his shot blocked by Tony James.

The ball ricocheted back off the Harriers hitman and looped over an out-stretched Deeney into the top corner.

Burton were being kept quiet but it took a fine save by Coleman to deny Harrard.

Brian Smikle, playing as left back, had given the ball to Banim, who drove forward and sent in a low cross that Harrad hit first time, but the keeper showed good reflexes to tip the shot over the bar.

But the away side edged ahead just before half-time. Harriers had been absorbing pressure from Burton when a long pass forward was instantly controlled by Knights.

The forward skipped past Deeney as he came out of his area and slotted into the back of the net.

Burton replied early in the second half when Harriers Achilles’ heel was once again exposed. They failed to clear a corner and after Aaron Webster headed across goal, Ryan Austin finished off from close range.

Yates’s side continued to see more of the ball and Bennett tested Deeney’s reflexes with a powerful low shot.

McDermott was also a constant threat for Harriers, with his pace and dangerous crosses troubling Burton.

But they were undone at a set-piece again in the 85th minute after substitute Russ Penn fouled John McGrath.

Coleman was helpless to stop the Burton forward’s 30-yard free-kick looping over the wall and into the back of the net.

It was Banim’s first goal for the Brewers and ensured Harriers tasted defeat for the first time ever at The Pirelli Stadium.

However, with the FA Cup first round clash against Cambridge on Saturday, Harriers’ management will take confidence from what they saw.

Harriers: Coleman 6; Ferrell 7 (Hayward, 89); Knights 7; Moore 7; Brittain 6 (Barnes-Homer, 81) ; Smikle 6; McDERMOTT 8; Riley 6; Bennett 7; Lowe 6; Bowler 6 (Penn, 83).

Unused substitutes: Creighton; Richards.

Burton: Deeney; Webster; James (McGrath, 72); Corbett; Harrad; Banim; Holmes; Austin; Pearson; Bailey; Simmons (Morris, 66).



CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO LISTEN TO DAVID MCDERMOTT'S REACTION: