Despite a slightly improved performance against Stevenage Borough tonight mistakes once again cost Harriers dear with Mark Stimson's men running out convincing winners at Aggborough.
Harriers were desperate for a rection to last weekend's drubbing at Grays and whilst tonight effort was a better one, it certainly wasn't a performance deserving of a victory - and a win is just what Harriers could really do with at Rushden on Bank Holiday Monday with the men from Aggborough now having lost three of their opening four league games.
Borough meanwhile were decent value for the win they picked up thanks to goals from Daryl McMahon and Adam Miller. It was another marksman in Steve Morison that should really have put them ahead after less than a quarter of an hour when he thumped a header off the bar from McMahon's cross.
With 19 on the clock they had their lead however when McMAHON caught the Harriers defence napping - he latched onto a great pass from the middle of the park to bear down on goal before hitting a powerful finish past Scott Bevan.
11 minutes later and without having made much of an opening up front themselves, Harriers found themselves two goals down when a poor ball back to Bevan from Creighton left the goalkeeper in danger. Bevan managed to race out of his area and clear the ball past Morison who was chasing the ball down but it only served to land at the feet of MILLER who lobbed Bevan from more than 30 yards.
As was the case for the previous three games of this season, Harriers looked better after the break - James Constable had two good chances within ten minutes of the re-start but it was sub Iyseden Christie who closest when he absolutely hammered a Brian Smikle knock-down towards Alan Julian's goal only for the ball to sail just over.
On the touchile Neil Howarth then introduced Matthew Barnes-Homer into the fray and whilst Harriers continued to have most of the ball and most of the chances there still lacked a killer touch - Bevan made a wonder-save from Morison as Borough looked to snatch a third on the break.
Harriers thought their pressure had finally paid off when with ten minutes to go they had the ball in the back of the net. Referee Andy Hendley had played advantage after a foul and the ball found its way into the box and to the feet of Barnes-Homer - despite his initial decision the referee then blew for the earlier foul as the ball rolled into the back of the net.
There's no doubting that Harriers have had nothing like the positive start they were searching for to the season - the inability to turn a good 45 minute's work into a full 90 minute effort will be something they must improve on as they head to Rushden on Monday - meanwhile the side can only watch on as many of the other BSP teams look to get points on the board on Saturday.
