Notts. County 1 Kidderminster Harriers 3

Last updated : 13 March 2005 By Footymad Previewer
Notts County fans went home fuming at their team's inept performance and some controversial decisions by Leicestershire referee Kevin Friend which resulted in a 3-1 defeat against struggling Kidderminster.

While their anger at the Notts performance was justified, they may have second thoughts about the referee not-withstanding that he awarded Harriers two penalties.

A scrappy contest seemed to be heading towards a goalless stalemate when the first spot-kick came on 76 minutes for a push in the area by the young Notts central defender Kelvin Wilson.

The diminutive Dean Keates stepped forward to drive the penalty inside Saul Deeney's right-hand post to bring joy to 400 travelling fans.

Moments later the players were embroiled in a brawl after a crude challenge by Paul Bolland earned him a yellow card, but it was nothing compared to the fracas that followed shortly afterward.

A flare up in the Notts penalty area led to a stamping offence on Johnny Mullins by the Notts goalkeeper Deeney which led to him seeing red on his 22nd birthday and being replaced in goal by league debutante Rob Elliot.

Keates stepped forward again and this time fired the penalty into the opposite corner.

Notts had seldom looked like scoring, but burst to the other end for Mark Stallard to make it two in two matches and - as in the win over Swansea - the opening was provided by David Pipe.

Kidderminster soon recovered their two-goal advantage with a splendid move down the left and, when the ball was transferred into the middle, Notts were ill-prepared to clear the threat and Chris Beardsley had all the time in the world to pick his spot for the third.

It was only Kidderminster's third away win of the season, but Notts have now lost at home six times without ever playing as badly as this.