Kidderminster Harriers boss accuses players of crumbling under pressure after play-off defeat

Harriers, who squandered the chance to win the National League North title by losing at Southport on the final day of the regular season, were beaten 2-1 at Aggborough in Sunday’s semi-final to cap a miserable end to the campaign.

Former Kiddy midfielder Declan Weeks fired in the winner eight minutes from time to earn the visitors a deserved victory, over a home team which failed to build on Kyle Morrison’s 18th minute opener.

And Brown delivered a damning assessment of his team’s character in the wake of a hugely disappointing finish to the campaign.

He said: “You can praise the opposition but you have to give criticism to your own, myself included.

“The criticism comes in the way of being able to handle themselves on the biggest stage.

“Those big stages are always the last few games of the season. We have not stepped up to the plate. We have not been able to handle it.  

“That is the part I am disappointed with, from my perspective. That is the part I am going to have to address in the close season.”

Harriers, fighting to win promotion back to the National League Premier 12 months after being relegated, were given the perfect start when Morrison converted David Worrall’s corner.

But they were unable to build on it, Dylan Mottley-Henry levelling the scorers after goalkeeper Chrisitan Dibble could only parry Connor Woods’ shot into his path.

Dibble redeemed himself by saving Kurt Willoughby’s penalty early in the second half but Weeks then bagged the winner with a precise shot inside the post, with Harriers unable to muster a chance through 10 minutes of stoppage time. 

Brown said: “When we got our noses in front I thought we had enough composure to get us to half-time in front at least.

“We played well for 30-35 minutes and then just succumbed to pressure, what the opposition has thrown at us but more importantly the basics of the game.

“If your basics are not right, these moments come along when the pressure is on and they get questioned. If you don’t step up to the plate in these moments, you never will. That is what has happened these last couple of games.”

Asked what he had told his players after the final whistle, Brown said: “People expect words of wisdom but there aren’t any words of wisdom.

“When the pressure was cranked up we didn’t respond.

“We cranked it on ourselves by winning 12 out of 14 games or whatever it was. We were responsible for taking things to the last game of the season.

“Then to not conduct yourself in the manner you have done, is unacceptable. A professional footballer will always be judged on pressure situations.

"There was no urgency, no direction. It was huff and puff. That for me is pressure and to have players who can't handle that is something I will need to look at for next season."