Kidderminster Harriers 1(1) v (3)5 Coventry City

Harriers were given a footballing lesson by an impressive Coventry side who were at near full strength in their final friendly before kicking off their Championship campaign against Sunderland at the weekend.

New-signing Jeff Kenna was handed his debut at right-back but he proved his versatility by also slotting in at left back and in the centre of the defence before being substituted after 79 minutes.  City played some very good football, knocking the ball around with speed and confidence but Harriers acquitted themselves well in the opening stages and took the lead in the eleventh minute when Michael Blackwood jinked his way into the penalty area, holding off the challenge of his marker, before dispatching a shot past Andy Marshall from a narrow angle.

City began to dominate the game, however, and went close to leveling the scores with two 25 yard free kicks, the first blazed narrowly over the bar by Moussa N'Diaye, the second by the lively Faysal El Idrissi that Steve Taylor did well to grab under the crossbar.  The equaliser came midway through the half, Gliorissi ran at the defence at speed  through the inside left channel and beat Taylor from the edge of the penalty area with a shot that went in off the foot of the post.  The visitors then took the lead with a goal that was sloppy from a Harriers point of view; El Idrissi's corner from the left found Matthew Heath at the near post, his flick on beat everybody and went in at the far post.

A Jonny Harkness free kick set up Blackwood for Harriers but his shot from an angle went wide of the far post.  In the last minute of the half City put the game beyond Harriers with a good display of passing that ended with Stern John feeding the ball to Dele Adebola who had his back to goal but managed to flick the ball over his head and that of his marker Mark Creighton before turning and slotting it past Taylor.

After the break the game continued in similar fashion; City continued to knock the ball around well and often left Harriers chasing empty spaces.  One such passing move ended when N'Diaye set Stephen Hughes clear on goal but his shot was weak and straight at Taylor.  Just past the hour mark the Harriers defence was carved open again but Gavin Hurren did well to track back to tackle Adebola.  Adebola soon made amends, however, when he outjumped Creighton at the far post to head in El Idrissi's left wing cross to make it 4-1.

Harriers' chances were limited by their inability to get the ball of the visitors but they did have a handful; Russ Penn went closest with a 20-yard drive that only missed the target by inches.  After Taylor had saved from El Idrissi again Harriers went close once more; they managed a good passing move of their own with Michael McGrath ending it by slipping the ball to Luke Reynolds who fired into the side netting.

The rout was completed five minutes from time; the Harriers defence was carved open once more and John got into the penalty area on the right and rolled the ball across the face of goal for N'Diaye who was left with an easy tap in.  John should have scored himself in stoppage time but headed Liam Davies' cross wide with the goal at his mercy.

Harriers were well beaten but will be safe in the knowledge that they will not come up against a team as good as Coventry in the Conference in the coming season.