HARRIERS were beaten 1-0 by Gloucester City in National League North on Saturday. 

The Reds came into the match on a relatively high having won their last two matches, while the visitors were on a slump, beaten in each of their last five encounters.

Despite that, it was the visitors who created the better share of chances on the day and edged a fairly tepid affair – boosted no doubt by the arrival of three new signings in their starting line-up.

With just seven minutes played, Jack James went close for the Tigers as his curling shot threatened to catch Tom Billson unawares – the on-loan Coventry man was alert, though, and dived away to his left to parry the effort away.

Three minutes later, Krystian Pearce had the only real chance of the half for the home side as he switched his fee neatly in the area, firing low and drawing a good save from former Harrier Brandon Hall in the visiting goal.

There were further half chances for Harriers before the break, but Zak Brown’s shot lacked the power to trouble Hall on 37 minutes, before Ashley Hemmings struck well wide five minutes later.

The visitors were ahead on 52 minutes. It was unfortunate from a Harriers perspective – Billson had reacted quickly to try and meet Gyasi’s shot, only to be deceived by a deflection that knocked the ball up into the air and away from him. Matt McClure was alive to the threat and nodded the ball over him and into the net despite the keeper’s best effort to stop him.

Three minutes later it might well have been two. Boosted by the goal, Gloucester moved forward quickly, and debutant striker Obadeyi hit a deft finish that angled away from Billson, rolling just wide of the post.

There were just five left on the clock before Harriers really worked Hall again. A corner found sub Tom Owen-Evans completely unmarked, but his volley found Hall in good form as he threw himself at it to keep it out and launch a counter-attack that saw McHale thump an effort off the post when it looked a golden chance to put the game to bed.