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

Harriers began their pre-season campaign with a comfortable victory over Gloucester City with a new-look side that contained a number of new signings and trialists.

Mark Yates' summer signings were all given a run-out; goalkeeper Steve Taylor began the game with Stuart Whitehead and Andy White, and after the break Scott Bevan took over between the posts and Mark Creighton, Dean Sturridge and Jamie McClen joined him.  Trialists Ashley Edkins, Mark Preece, Jordan Fitzpatrick, Stuart Sinclair and Brian Smikle all featured at various points during the game and none of them will be too disappointed with their performances.

Harriers need just three minutes to open the scoring; Russ Penn cutting inside from the left and hitting a fierce shot past Matt Bath into the far corner.  It wasn't long before they were two up; White splitting the defence open with a clever reverse pass for Simon Russell to run onto and he beat Bath at the near post.  Harriers were lively in this opening period of the game and should have gone further ahead on thirteen minutes when Penn blasted over the bar from long range.

The miss could have proved costly as within seconds City were back in the game; Alex Sykes' cross from the left found Luke Corbett unmarked and he headed past Taylor.  Harriers were quick to reassert themselves, however, and Bath had to be alert to hold on to Preece's looping header and then soon afterwards to tip Russell's chip over the bar for a corner.  It was from this corner that Harriers increased their lead; City failed to clear properly and when Jonny Harkness crossed back in Preece's mis-kick fell to Scott Eaton who stabbed the ball in from close range.  The best move of the half should have seen Harriers further ahead, White, Michael McGrath and Eaton combined with the latter setting up McGrath with a back-heel on the edge of the penalty area but he shot wide of the far post.

At the interval Yates made ten substitutions, only Jonny Harkness came back out of those who had played in the first half, but missing was Dean Sturridge who was given extra time before easing himself into action.  With the game in the bag Harriers were not so lively in the second half but managed to increase their lead just five minutes in; ex-WBA man Brian Smikle swept the ball in at the near post from Michael Blackwood's low cross from the left.

Luke Reynolds looked sharp in the time he was on the pitch and could have extended Harriers' lead further on the hour; receiving the ball from the right with his back to goal he turned well and was unlucky to see his shot come back off the far post.  City had made use of their substitutes also and it was one of them who caused Harriers some problems setting up a couple of chances that the home team failed to capitalise upon; he got to the byline on the left and crossed to the far post on 69 minutes but Jon Miller blasted high and wide.

At the other end Blackwood was still looking lively and created a chance fifteen minutes from the end; his cross from the left found Smikle who fired wide at the far post.  Soon afterwards he created the final Harriers goal, his cross from the left beat Sturridge who had come on for the last quarter of the game, but Reynolds was on had to fire in from close range.  The home team had the last clear-cut chance of the game; Harris again got to the byline on the left but this time his cross found the head of Shane Anson but his effort was tipped over the bar for a corner by Bevan.