Kidderminster Harriers 4 Altrincham 0

THE eventual final score seemed improbable for the first half hour as Altrincham had the better of things against an error-prone Kidderminster side, which had lost its

two previous games. But, yet again, Altrincham could not turn plenty of possession into a serious goal threat, though home keeper Lewis twice had to save from Perry and Lawrie.

Things looked up for Kidderminster when a speculative shot came back off the bar. Then, after 37 minutes, from right of goal, Michael Gash drove the ball home from 18 yards from a pass from his left to make it 1-0.

After a James Lawrie freekick, 35 yards out, had run to the keeper, Kiddy counter-attacked. A shot from their left hit the base of Parton's right upright and rebounded to Reid, who doubled the lead. Two goals in three minutes had made it 2-0, a score which was harsh on the visitors.

Alty's fate was sealed inside five minutes of the second half when Simon Richman, booked in the first half for a poor challenge, repeated his offence and was sent off.

Altrincham made positive changes as Gillspie and Clee came on but it became 3-0 in the 72nd minute when Johnson scored from Verma's feed. Alty withstood some sustained

pressure and even got forward themselves with Gillespie having a trio of off-target shots. But Kidderminster had the final word, deep into added time. Nicholson fed an offside-looking Styche and the substitute netted.

It gets no easier for Alty as they travel to title-chasing Barnet on Saturday with a squad already hit by injury and illness but also now by suspension.

Altrincham: Dave Parton, Scott Leather, Gianluca Havern, Tom Marshall, Adam Griffin, Simon Richman, Peter Cavanagh (capt), Jake Moult, James Lawrie, Kyle Perry, Damian Reeves, Subs: Stuart Coburn, Steven Gillespie, Greg Wilkinson, Nicky Clee, Mike Williams.