United did what they had to do in a must win game tonight as a James Constable penalty made it five straight home league wins.
On a freezing evening United started with a couple of free kicks around the Kidderminster box, a Lewis Haldane shot over the bar on ten minutes and a James Clarke shot on fourteen which forced visiting keeper Adam Bartlett into his first save of the night.
Ref Amy Rayner was letting the game flow nicely and on 23 minutes made the game's key decision. Constable sold a dummy and burst from half way, leaving defender Mark Creighton trailing. As they reached the box Constable cut across his former teammmate and was brought down, and the first female ref at an Oxford home game consulted her assistant Mr Forrester who put his flag across his chest to indicate a penalty. Ms Rayner took an eternity before deciding on just a yellow card. Constable was in unforgiving mood, thumping his spot kick past Bartlett to make it 1-0 with his eighth goal of the season. It was one he will have enjoyed more than most against his former team and will also have pleased all of you out there who followed our advice that 6/1 for first goal was more than generous.
It was no more than United deserved after dominating the opening quarter of the game and although they were grateful that a Darryl Knights dink from the left edge of the six yard box came back off the post on 32 minutes they were looking sound defensively. Ms Rayner was under pressure again on 35 as Luke Foster went down in a challenge from Stefan Moore which United's nearby players were convinced was an elbow, although nothing was given.
A final chance saw Yemi Odubade skate clear on to a Constable flick but lift his effort over the bar but United will have been happy with a lead at the break after a solid 45 minutes.
A couple of early half chances in the second half lifted the Harriers who started to commit more men forward , but with space appearing at the other end and the pace of Odubade the ideal weapon to exploit those gaps United were still looking just as likely to double their lead as concede an equaliser.. At times they gave the ball away far too cheaply and put themselves uinder unnecessary pressure but on 65 minutes that edge to the game was exemplified perfectly: Turley saved bravely at the feet of Knights sent the ball long and Constable was inches away from another superb cross from the once again excellent Sam Deering.
It may not have been a classic game but it was enterprising enough and with Foster and Matt Day looking strong at the back and Hutchinson and Murray doing the ugly things well in midfield you'd have been hard pressed indeed to say which team started in fourth and the other in seventeenth
An Odubade shot on 80 forced Bartlett into another save, although it should have left him with no chance, but the closing stages saw United see the game through in a very professional manner.
There is nothing much wrong with United's home form, but can they start picking up results on their travels? See you at Torquay for another thrilling instalment.
Report by Chris Williams
See it all in GALLERY
Hear the reaction and see the Highlights in Yellow World
Att: 3,690
Away 190
