HARRIERS FALL TO A CONN JOB
CHRIS CONN-CLARKE bagged a brace as Altrincham came from behind to strengthen their grip on the play-offs and leave Kidderminster Harriers facing an uphill task to avoid an immediate return to National League North.
After Regan Linney had cancelled out Zak Brown’s opener, Conn-Clarke struck twice in the second half as Alty moved into fifth with their first league victory at Aggborough since 1994.
“It was a real dogfight, a really tough encounter.,” said boss Phil Parkinson. “The lads had to dig deep.
“I thought Kidderminster were really at it, particularly in the first half. In the second half, our lads have done what they have done in the last couple of weeks and really come on strong.
“To score three against them shows how clinical we are. Ultimately, it is why we have come out on top.”
Harriers, on the back of four straight draws, started the brighter and gave the visitors an early scare when Ashley Hemmings hit the woodwork after good work by Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.
They took a deserved lead on 20 minutes when the Alty defence failed to clear from a set-piece and Amari Morgan-Smith headed down for Brown to hook the ball past Ethan Ross.
Altrincham, however, were back on level terms three minutes later as they took advantage of some statuesque defending. Conn-Clarke picked out Lewis Banks on the righthand side to square for Linney, who made no mistake from close range.
Linney almost doubled his tally after half an hour when he took down a long clearance from Ross but was thwarted by the onrushing Christian Dibble.
Hemmings went close for the hosts five minutes later when his rasping shot on the turn squeaked wide of the Alty upright.
The Robins conjured up the first chance of the second half when Conn-Clarke found himself in space but a crucial touch from Dibble saw the chance go begging.
But it mattered little as shortly after, Alex Newby raced through the Harriers defence and crossed for Conn-Clarke who powerfully steered the ball past Dibble at the back post.
As Harriers pushed for a way back into the game, Alty remained effective on the break and Newby went close before Dibble had to be at his best to deny Banks.
And Conn-Clarke made the game safe on 73 minutes when he broke free from the clutches of the Harriers defence and curled the ball past a helpless Dibble.
Harriers’ boss Phil Brown, whose team are four points from safety, said: “The first half sums our season up. To not be two or three up at half-time is probably the reason why we are where we are.
“When we did get the lead, uncharacteristically we fell asleep at the back and consequently it sparked Altrincham’s forwards into action and we were not able to defend against them.”