York 3
Harriers 2

TEN-MEN Harriers were unlucky not to earn any points in York after they produced a spirited display.

The Aggborough outfit had to play for 80 minutes with only ten players on the pitch, after Gavin Caines was sent off for a straight red card.

Despite the setback, Harriers were the better side and created a host of chances to earn a share of the spoils in the second half.

Striker Robbie Matthews made his first start in six games after recovering from the groin problems that beset him. With Dean Bennett serving a one-match suspension, captain Chris McPhee was in midfield.

Forward Brian Smikle gave his side a fine start in the second minute when he met David McDermott's cross with a stooping header and beat keeper Michael Ingham.

However, they were stunned when Caines was sent off after he pulled back York hitman Richard Brodie in the ninth minute in Harriers' penalty area, despite the forward firing off a shot that hit the post.

From the resulting spot-kick, Brodie slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

Manager Mark Yates reshuffled his side to cope with the loss of Caines, with McPhee moving to centreback and Nathan Hayward, who was impressive, coming into midfield for Darryl Knights.

Harriers fell behind in the 32nd minute when Brodie chested defender Djoumin Sangare's cross into the back of the net.

The away side were under pressure and former Harrier Andy Ferrell curled a shot just wide of keeper Dean Coleman's goal.

They fell 3-1 behind in the 58th minute, when striker Michael Gash rose above Harriers' defence to head the ball into the back of the net.

To their credit, Harriers never gave up and Matthew Barnes-Homer's low free-kick went through Ingham's legs in the 62nd to get them back in the game.

Buoyed by the lifeline, the away side pushed for a leveller, with Brian Smikle's fierce strike blocked by Sangare in the 80th minute, while Barnes-Homer, Matthews and Duane Courtney forced saves from York's shot-stopper.

In the end, their efforts on a hot day in York were not enough and their unbeaten run of four matches in the Football Conference came to an end.

Harriers: Coleman 6; Baker; Riley 6; Caines 2; Courtney 6; Smikle 7, McPhee 8, McDermott 8 (Farrell, 92); Knights (Hayward, 16); Matthews 6; Barnes-Homer 6.

Unused substitutes: Dolman; Hadley; Sharpe.

York: Ingham; Purkiss; Meredith; Parslow; Smith; Ferrell (McGurk, 84); Gash; Barrett; Brodie; Mackin (Rankine, 67); Sangare.

Unused substitutes: Pacquette; Nelthorpe; Mimms.

Referee: Paul Davison. Attendance: 2,509 (113)