STARS ABROAD: Four Kenyans feature in England as Harambee Stars midfielder logs minutes in Armenia

Kenyan defender Vincent Harper had an afternoon to forget as his error contributed to Walsall’s 2-1 League Two defeat to Swindon at the County Ground on Monday, 6 April.

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Harper, who was brought on in the 79th minute, allowed Swindon to get an equaliser just two minutes after his entry, when he gifted away possession to Fletcher Hollman to drive a low finish beyond the reach of Myles Roberts.

The goal, which came as a response to Jamie Jellis’ opener for Walsall in the 66th minute, was quickly followed by another, after Harper’s teammate Aden Flint was caught dallying on the ball in added time, to allow Jake Batty to set up Aaron Drinan for a dramatic winner in stoppage time.

Harper, whose last Harambee Stars call-up came in October last year, was only on the field after Connor Barrett got injured, going on to play a largely forgettable 12 minutes.

Still under caretaker manager Darren Byfield, Walsall, with their 14th league defeat of the season, dropped further away from the playoff spots and are now 12th on 62 points.

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Obiero back to business

Several other Kenyans were also in action on a busy Easter Monday across England, among them Harambee Stars midfielder Zech Obiero, who marked his return to club action in Tranmere Rovers’ 1-0 defeat to Colchester in League Two.

Obiero, who last Monday scored his first goal for the Kenya national team, played 83 minutes of the defeat before being replaced by Kristian Dennis.

The 21-year-old, on loan from League One's Leyton Orient, was not in the squad in Rovers’ game over the weekend, when they also lost 1-0 to Shrewsbury.

In front of their home fans at Prenton Park on Monday, it was Jack Payne’s goal in the 75th minute that condemned Rovers to their fourth consecutive loss, a worrying run of form that places them 21st in the league, and just three points away from the relegation zone.

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Oduor back in the Starting XI

Also in League Two, Harambee Stars midfielder Clarke Oduor featured for 62 minutes as his on-loan side Grimsby Town bounced back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Crawley at The Broadfield Stadium.

Oduor, who played for Kenya during the March international break, returned to the starting 11 after coming off the bench over the weekend against Harrogate, seeing his side score twice in 13 first-half minutes to wrap up a comfortable win on the road.

The result took Grimsby’s tally to 65 points, just three away from the last playoff spot.

Obiero April blues continue

After his recent burst in March, Kenyan forward Micah Obiero went for a second game in April without a goal, this as his Wealdstone side beat Aldershot 3-0 in a National League match at Grosvenor Vale.

Obiero, who scored eight goals in as many matches last month, featured for 67 minutes in the win before being replaced by Ashley Nathaniel-George.

The win took Wealdstone up to 12th in the standings with 54 points.

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Tera logs more minutes

Elsewhere in Armenia, Harambee Stars midfielder Alwyn Tera was once again in action for Ararat Armenia as they dropped further ground in their race for the league title.

Tera, who led his side to the Armenian Cup semifinals last Thursday, was on the field for 68 minutes, as Ararat squandered a 1-0 lead by Paul Ayongo to now move two points behind league-leaders Pyunik Yerevan, who won their match against Shirak Gyumri, also on Monday.