This match report was kindly provided courtesy of the superb Luton Town news Website www.lutontoday.co.uk.  Lutontoday.co.uk kindly allow us to use their match reports, and, as Hatters fans, we'd urge you to check out their excellent Website, which always contains up-to-date Luton Town news, views and match reports.  The photos are also with the kind permission of Luton Town Football Club and their excellent photographer Gareth Owen.

VENUE Kenilworth Road ATTENDANCE 6,488 REFEREE G Hegley (Bishop's Stortford) MATCH DATE 16 March 2002 KICK OFF TIME 15:00

LUTON TOWN Mark Ovendale   David Bayliss   Russell Perrett   Chris Coyne   Alan Neilson Emmerson Boyce 80   Paul Hughes Matthew Spring   Kevin Nicholls   Matthew Taylor   Steve Howard   Dean Crowe   Adrian Forbes 79   SUBS NOT USED Andrew Fotiadis   Jean-Louis Valois   Scott Ward

KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS Stuart Brock Ian Clarkson   John Danby 65   Adie Smith   Abdou Sall   Craig Hinton   Ian Joy   Danny Williams   Bo Henriksen   Tony Bird   Drewe Broughton   Ian Foster   Colin Larkin 80   SUBS NOT USED Lee Ayres   Sam Shilton   Ben Davies

Match Report	16 March 2002
Luton Town 1 - 0 Kidderminster Harriers

LUTON TOWN 1 Paul Hughes '16  KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS 0 N/A

LUTON SEE OF KIDDERMINSTER WITH HUGHES GOAL...

After the win against Exeter in midweek the Hatters impressive run continued. Playoff chasing Kidderminster were the eighth team to be seen off in as many games Luton moved one step closer to equalling the club record of nine consecutive wins.

The Hatters were always in control of this match with the visitors failing to test Mark Ovendale - recalled after Carl Emberson's bout of 'flu. The result seems as though the match was a tight one with just the one goal but that was far from the the truth.

Manager Joe Kinnear made three changes, Ovendale for Emberson and David Bayliss and Paul Hughes replaced Adrian Forbes and Jean-Louis Valois. That meant that the visiting scouts would see Matthew Taylor play in his preferred position at left wing.

As early as the second minute though Paul Hughes' late tackle on Craig Hinton earned the Hatters midfielder a booking.

"And with the first chance of the match, the Hatters scored"

But the Hatters started brightly, limited Kidderminster any chances at the other end and it just seemed a matter of time before the deadlock would be broken. And with the first chance of the match, the Hatters scored.

Alan Neilson fed Matthew Spring who's clever square pass found Hughes whose thunderous first time finish zipped past Brock and ended up in the bottom right hand corner.

With the Hatters tails up with an early goal, Luton continued to press looking for another goal which would seemingly kill off Harriers. Stuart Brock - who had a nightmare of a match up at Aggborough - pulled off an excellent save, clawing out a firm Steve Howard shot from six yards.

Kidderminster enjoyed small area's of possession leading up to the break but failed to test Mark Ovendale but the Hatters underlined their superiority by having more chances to extend their lead with Crowe and Taylor guilty off missing decent chances, however the hosts were continually frustrated by the flag of the linesman.

Harriers stepped up the pressure in the second period looking for a equaliser to strengthen their quest for a playoff spot but Perrett and Coyne kept them at bay with some excellent defending.

The Hatters best chance in the second period came from leading scorer Steve Howard who this time was denied by the crossbar after his delightful chip had bamboozled Stuart Brock after a fine pass from Neilson.

"The visiting keeper then was given his marching orders as he continued to have an off day playing against the Hatters"

The visiting keeper then was given his marching orders as he continued to have an off day playing against the Hatters. Matthew Taylor scampered down the left flank, one - on - one with the advancing Brock who got a hand to Taylor's attempted cross. With the keeper outside the area, referee Grant Hedgley had on option but to sent the stopper off.

But despite their numerical advantage the Hatters failed to kill off the visitors as they looked more of a threat. Their passing suggested an urgency to find an equaliser, although their strikers seemed to be on a different wavelength as their midfielders, as they failed to test Ovendale. Dean Crowe and lively substitute Adrian Forbes also had a chance each to grab a second but the match ended on a sour note with Paul Hughes sent off for a second bookable offence.

Baz's Day...	16 March 2002
Luton Town 1-0 Kidderminster Harriers Travel - Arrived at the ground at 2.20, met Dave inside the ground. Hatters Fans - 6,300. Good turnout considering the amount that Kidderminster brought. Quiet before the first goal went in but upped the noise level after that. Remained a little quiet during the second-half as Kidderminster searched for an equaliser. Kiddy Fans - 208. They sang "come on Kiddy" and "come on you reds" but that was about it as they remained relatively quiet. Food - I had chicken and mushroom pie and a coffee. Last Word - EIGHT wins on the bounce, and although the score suggests different, the Hatters outplayed Kidderminster and should have had at least a couple more goals - not that I'm complaining. Shame about the Hughes sending off, but Brock's dismissal did make me chuckle (poor guy).

Kinnear's Comments	16 March 2002
Luton Town 1-0 Kidderminster Harriers “We could have cashed in on the opportunities that we had first-half. We didn’t, but it’s hard to look back and think of a shot they actually had in the 90 minutes. It’s another clean sheet - that’s six in our last eight and eight consecutive wins. “Paul Hughes knows himself that it was just frustration. That’s the second time he’s been sent off for the same offence. I’ve been in there and explained it to him. He took his goal extremely well. It was a terrific goal. Good build-up when Springy laid it off to him and he’s lashed it in, which he’s always capable of doing. Then frustration crept in again and he’s got himself to blame. There’s no argument with it. We’re not blaming the referee or anything. He’s kicked the ball away, it’s a stupid thing to do and he’s paid the penalty for it. Now we’ll lose him for the game at Swansea in two weeks time. “Forbes came on and had a good turn of pace. He was a bit sharp and he’s always a threat once he gets into his stride. Valois is obviously a much better player when he’s got all his equipment working, but he’s got niggling injuries - toe, ankle, thigh. He’s been kicked and battered throughout this whole league. Maybe we can give him a blow and get him back in good shape for the run-in because I’m aware of his talent and what he can do. At times I’ve played him when he’s only been 60 per cent fit, but I know what he’s capable of doing and if I only get half an hour out of him each match, then fine, so be it. I just hope that he does extremely well in that half hour. Today thankfully I felt that we were strong enough to get through without him.”

Click Here to search for other reports for matches involving Kidderminster Harriers.