Harriers stall Terras
By Adam Summers

BOTH defences were on top in this uninspiring goal-less draw at the Wessex Stadium on Saturday.

But although the Terras would not have wanted a replay before the game there were positives manager Jason Tindall could take from the performance, particularly the solid displays by his two teenaged centre-backs Scott Doe and West Ham United loanee Bondz Ngala.

Ngala put on a mature performance on his debut despite picking up an early booking and both him and Doe were clearly aided by the experience of Trevor Challis, who made only his third outing of the season at left back.

Initially manager Tindall thought that Joel Kitamirike was suspended for the clash due to an accumulation of five bookings but his one-game ban will not actually come into force until Tuesday.

The ex-Chelsea man was named as a substitute along with Justin Roberts, Stuart Beavon, Danny Phillips and Michael Malcolm. Full back Adam Gross was cup-tied.

The hosts made a very positive start with Gavin McCallum sliding a fine pass through to Anton Robinson in the opening minutes.

The Harriers responded with a stooping header from Russell Penn which Jason Matthews comfortably held before the Terras threatened again at the other end with Doe nearly getting on the end of a fine cross from Challis.

Paul Bignot was the visiting player that did well to clear.

The game continued to swing from end to end with Matthews making a brave save at the feet of Iyesden Christie midway through the half but both teams were struggling to muster any sustained pressure.

The half's best effort came on 31 minutes when Kiddy's James Constable produced a superb shot on the turn that Matthews pushed around a post.

Sido Jombarti replied with an effort from long-range that sailed over but Weymouth were clearly not keeping hold of possession long enough to get any decent service to their strikers McCal-lum and Wilfried Domoraud, who were looking lively despite having to feed on scraps.

Referee Andrew Bennett did not help the flow of the game by blowing up for every minor infringement and it was clear at the interval that the hosts would need to raise the tempo in the second half to stand any chance of wining the tie at the first attempt.

Tindall's men continued to look solid after the restart with Challis leading by example at left back and teenagers Doe and Ngala remaining assured in central defence but they continued to lack creativity going forward.

McCallum was looking the Terras' biggest threat and on 63 minutes his cross-cum-shot found the arms of Bevan before Matthews had to be alert to charge off his line and clear the ball to safety after the Harriers had men over on a counter-attack.

The visitors made a double switch on 69 minutes to try and put some more life into their side with Simon Russell and Justin Richards replacing Dean Bennett and Christie but the cagey manner of the game continued.

A few minutes later Bignot got in behind Robinson on the right and advanced into the box. But he then got caught in two minds between shooting and crossing and sent the ball a long way wide when he should have done better.

The Harriers then made another great opening when Richards found space on the right and put over a fine cross for Constable to head towards goal but Matthews reacted superbly to dive to his right and push the ball wide.

With 15 minutes remaining Tindall replaced Domoraud with Beavon and later brought on Michael Malcolm for McCallum but it was the visitors that made the final chance of the game when Michael Blackwood curled a shot over on 87 minutes