Steve Burr insists Kidderminster Harriers will keep battling for play-off after disappointing draw at Eastbourne

Apr 17 2011 by Colin Stoner, Sunday Mercury

KIDDERMINSTER boss Steve Burr believes his side will keep on striving for the Blue Square Bet Premier play-offs, despite a disappointing draw at relegated Eastbourne yesterday.

The Aggborough outfit produced one of their poorest displays of the year but still managed to get something out of a match where they were second best for long periods.

The draw, their third in a row, means sixth-placed Harriers are now four-points behind Fleetwood, who occupy the final play-off spot and makes Tuesday’s game in hand at home to Darlington all the more important.

Burr though is hoping this result, which saw the battling Sports relegated to the Conference South, as just a ‘blip’.

“To be in the position we are in with a chance of the play-offs, with four games to go we’ll keep going, “ he said.

“Until it’s mathematically impossible and we can’t make it into the play-offs, we’ll be giving it everything we’ve got.

“The players have worked so hard to get us into this position but you’re going to get performances like this. It’s very hard to keep the performance levels up and not have a blip.”

With the hosts facing relegation and Harriers still hunting a top five finish, there was plenty at stake for both sides.

It was Eastbourne who were the better team as their direct approach stifled the visitors, who also struggled to find their passing game on a bumpy, bobbly pitch.

Eastbourne dangerman Richard Pacquette opened the scoring in the 28th minute, taking advantage of poor marking 20-yards out to spin and rifle a firm right-footed effort beyond keeper Danny Lewis.

Harriers almost levelled the scores on the stroke of half-time, with keeper Rikki Banks doing well to save Eastbourne-born Chris McPhee’s low shot.

Harriers improved in the second half, with the introduction of striking powerhouse Jamille Matt for Sean Canham giving them a muscular focal point.

It took a fine challenge by Ben Austin to deny McPhee, after he swapped passes with Matt.

However, Pacquette continued to cause Harriers’ backline problems and when he pounced on Michael Briscoe’s slip, his rising snapshot drew a fine save from Lewis.

Harriers made it 1-1 in the 76th minute in controversial circumstances as all three of the substitutes combined. Matt challenged Banks robustly for Callum Gittings’ hanging ball and with the keeper out of the picture, Tom Shaw slotted the ball into the back of the net. The hosts felt Matt had fouled the keeper but the goal stood.

As both sides went for a winner, the hosts had the bulk of the chances, with Jamie Taylor shooting wide and seeing another blocked while Lewis saved George Purcell’s free-kick and Danny Kelly fired the rebound off target.