MANAGER John Pemberton wasn’t downhearted despite his side’s goalless FA Cup stalemate with Northern Premier League side Stafford Rangers.

Harriers passed up a host of first half efforts before the visitors defended well to take the tie to a reply at Marston Road on Tuesday night.

Pemberton said: “We dominated the football match. I thought Stafford came here and defended really well because they had to, because we completely dominated the football match.

“We had 21 shots on goal and 30 crosses. What we did lack today was that little bit of quality in the final third.

“But it’s difficult when people camp in and when people put bodies around the 18-yard line. It was a bit of a struggle when Peni (Rich Peniket) went off because we lose that threat in the air from a cross.

“I’m not disappointed about it. We dominated the football match. They had one shot maybe two at best.

“The lads are disappointed because we haven’t scored and won the game, but that’s the FA Cup.”

Kidderminster had to do without Ryan Johnson for the clash after the defender suffered a family bereavement.

The boss was quick to underline how football pales into insignificance compared to what Johnson is going through.

He added: “Before the game we had Johno (Ryan Johnson) missing because he’s had a bereavement in the family which you can imagine the lads quite hard before the game, but I thought they responded well.

“The football match is irrelevant for me today. It’s more about Johno and his family and we give him all the support he needs because it just puts things into perspective.”

However, the boss did feel tension from some fans in the stands didn’t help his players as the went looking for a late winner.

He added: “The thing that disappoints me a little bit is when some people shout from the stands to ‘get it forward, get it forward’.

“They’ve got 10 people in front of the 18-yard box. Where are we going to kick it?”

“I think it’s nonsense and that’s what puts the players on edge. I’m disappointed with some of the comments. It panics the players and sometimes we have to go backwards to go forwards.

“We need that bit of patience and we all need to show it.

“Beside that bit of quality in the final third the game wasn’t an issue.”