Kiddy stay in touch at top

Nov 17 2008 by Colin Stoner, Birmingham Mail

JUSTIN Richards climbed to the top of the Blue Square Premier goalscharts with the Kidderminster Harriers’ match-winner at Rushden & Diamonds.

The 1-0 scoreline keeps Harriers within four points of leaders Burton Albion, with a game in hand.

It looked like it could have been a day of frustration for striker Richards at Nene Park, firing over the target twice, having shots blocked, and being denied by keeper Dale Roberts.

But he kept his cool to slot home his 12th goal of the season from a 42nd-minute penalty after Diamonds’ defender Curtis Osano handled a Brian Smikle cross.

“It shows the character the Justin’s got,” said Harriers manager Mark Yates. “He’d missed a couple of chances that he’d back himself to score.”

Yates was equally pleased with the team performance against their old rivals.

“We played some really good stuff and we were unlucky not to have the game out of sight at half-time. We needed to be that little bit more ruthless but I thought we were well worth the win.”