Kidderminster Harriers 1 Oxford United 0

Oxford United went down 1-0 to a goal from Matthew Barnes-Homer at Kidderminster Harriers this afternoon. The goal came from the best passing move of the match, midway through the first half, following an interchange of passes between former U Justin Richards and Barnes-Homer, before Richards crossed from the by-line for Barnes-Homer to volley home from eight yards out.

In the first half the home side were far better than Oxford, who could barely string two passes together, while Kidderminster cut through the United defence on two or three occasions with their incisive passing. United could have fallen behind on a couple of occasions before Kiddy broke the deadlock, first from a Richards shot that went narrowly past the far post, and later when Adam Murray scooped the ball off the line after it had looped over Ben Hinchliffe. United started to come back into the game after going a goal down, mainly through Lewis Haldane, who twice forced Adam Bartlett to tip the ball over after cutting onto his right foot.

United played the second half with much more purpose. They were quicker to the ball than in the first half, closed down the Kidderminster players better, and passed the ball better. However, they were toothless up front, and the only time that Bartlett was called into action was to tip aside a rasping drive from Murray. Karleigh Osborne had one powerful long-range effort that was deflected for a corner, and Chris Willmott almost prodded the ball home from three yards, but despite Oxford having more possession in the second period, it was still the home side that looked more likely to score, with Hinchliffe having to make a diving save from Richards, and Osborne making one fantastic saving tackle from Barnes-Homer after having made the initial mistake that gifted the Harriers player the ball.

This was a disappointing defeat for the Yellows, who in the second half threw everything at the Kidderminster defence, but were unable to break through, and the lack of firepower must be a continuing frustration and disappointment for Darren Patterson. There was just one change to the side that could only draw with Kettering Town last week, with new signing Paul Evans going straight into midfield, alongside new captain Joe Burnell and former skipper Murray. James Constable started up front against his former side, despite suffering a groin strain last week with an initial synopsis of a three-week recuperation. At half time Chris Carruthers came on for Constable, replacing Haldane at right wingback, with Haldane going up front alongside Jamie Guy. Ten minutes after the break ROS Sam Deering replaced Evans, and ten minutes later Yemi Odubade came on for Guy.

Today's referee was DS Bond, taking charge of an Oxford game for the first time. He was better than a lot of referees at this level, and correctly twice denied penalty appeals after Levi Reid and Haldane threw themselves to the ground in the area. He booked Osborne for a blatant trip, and Evans for being ex-Swindon. The attendance was just 2,065, swelled by a magnificent 635 from Oxford, who never stopped singing and cheering their side on.[@news]2365[/@news] [@opponent]kidderminster harriers[/@opponent]

This defeat sees United slip down to 19th place, just six off the foot of the table. In the Conference. Fercrissake. Kidderminster, meanwhile, have climbed to ninth. There are new leaders, with United's next opponents, Crawley, now heading the table. They beat fourth-placed Mansfield Town 2-1, with Jamie Cook grabbing the winner. Salisbury City have gone second after beating tenth-placed Barrow 3-0, while Kettering Town have gone third after their 4-2 win over 11th-placed York City. Cambridge United are in fifth place after losing to a last-minute winner at home to Torquay United.

Lewes were without a game, having lost 4-0 at home to Rushden & Diamonds on Thursday, and they dropped to the bottom of the table thanks to Northwich Victoria scraping a goalless draw with Forest Green Rovers, to lift the Vics to 23rd. Woking are now third from bottom after beating fifth-bottom Grays Athletic 3-1. Altrincham occupy their traditional spot of fourth bottom after they lost 3-0 at Stevenage Borough.

Histon are sixth after drawing 1-1 at Eastbourne Borough, while Burton Albion are seventh after being held 1-1 at home by Weymouth. Jefferson Louis was on target twice for eighth-placed Wrexham in their 3-2 win over Ebbsfleet United.