Rare away win for Burr's boys

Chris McPhee’s second half double proved to be just the tonic that Steve Burr’s much-travelled team needed after a tough week.

League trips to Barrow on Thursday and Gateshead ensured the Aggborough outfit, and their loyal fans, would have travelled a combined total of 842 miles in three days.

But on the way home fatigue would have been wiped away by the seldom-seen sight – Harriers winning in the league away from Aggborough.

Victory in the International Stadium was Harriers’ first on their travels in the league since November 21 and only their third of the campaign.

Had their form on the road matched their record at home, then Harriers would have still been thinking of the play-offs rather securing a top ten finish.

Saturday’s victory was impressive because they had been feeling the affects of their fourth game in the space of a week.

Burr had tried to inject some fresh legs into his team but the ploy failed as Harriers toiled and struggled to contain the relegation battling Tynesiders.

Only John Finnigan, back after a 10-game absence with a calf injury, look composed in the first half, where Gateshead, inspired by former Harrier and stand-in skipper Andy Ferrell, had the best chances.

Harriers would have been trailing if winger Peter Winn had enjoyed more luck in front of goal.

Winn, on-loan from Scunthorpe, blazed wide after cutting in from the box. He then came close with a low right-foot drive that flew past keeper Ross Atkins’ left-hand post.

But his best chance came on the half hour mark, when Andy Parkinson made a raid down the right and found his fellow wideman, who with just Atkins to beat shot a fraction off target.

Burr took radical action at the start of the second half, hauling off the tired Jack Byrne and unimpressive James Lawrie and bringing on Dean Bennett and Brian Smikle.

Still the hosts could have opened the scoring but 13-goal top scorer Daryl Clare headed over the bar in the 47th minute.

Re-jigged Harriers took firm control of the game, but it wasn’t until the arrival of Darryl Knights for a tiring Robbie Matthews in the 73rd minute that they looked dangerous.

The diminutive hitman had been on the pitch less than 60 seconds when he slipped McPhee free in the box and the midfielder finished with aplomb.

Knights then pounced on a moment of fortune in the 81st minute.

Lloyd Kerry’s wayward shot deflected off Phil Cave into his path and he produced a pin-point cross which McPhee met with a firm diving header at the near post.

The brace was the perfect response by McPhee, who had seen the captain’s armband given to Lee Baker, after his poor display against Rushden and Diamonds on Bank Holiday Monday.

Burr said: “Looking at the first half, I had changed things around to freshen up the side after our trip to Barrow.

“I just felt we really looked out on our feet and made some changes at half-time and I thought in the second half we created a lot more chances and thoroughly deserved to win the match.

“Chris [McPhee] was unfortunate last week with the penalty miss and he’s lost a bit of confidence but the two goals were very good.

“It was nice to see him get on the end of them and he's got a big smile on his face in the dressing room.”

Harriers’ manager also reserved special praise for the supporters, who again came out to watch their team despite result poor results and a gruelling schedule.

Burr added: “On Thursday I went on the away supporters’ coach and thanked them for travelling and against Gateshead the support was excellent again.”

Harriers: Atkins 6; Baker 6; Riley 6; Prosser 6; Sharpe 6; Kerry 7; Finnigan 8; Byrne 5 (Bennett, 46); McPhee 7; Matthews 7 (Knights, 72); Lawrie 5 (Smikle, 46). Unused substitutes: Singh; Goodfellow.

Gateshead: Farman; Baxter; Turnbull; Armstrong; Parkinson (Phillips, 33); Swailes; Cave (Jones, 71); Clare; Winn (Hurren, 71); Heckingbottom; Ferrell. Unused substitutes: Provett; Wake; Hurren. Referee: Michael Naylor (Sheffield). Attendance: 602