Cinderford Town 1(0) v (0)2 Kidderminster Harriers

Harriers maintained their unbeaten start to pre-season with a narrow, hard-fought, win over Southern League Cinderford Town.

Rookie goalkeeper Steve Taylor was the hero for Harriers after saving a penalty in each half and was the only player to play the whole game.  Mark Yates gave most of his trialists another run-out and introduced former Norwich City and Leicester City defender Rob Ullathorne at left back; Dean Sturridge started a game for the first time and looked sharper than in previous games.

Cinderford began the game at high speed and had given Harriers a couple of early scares before Neil Howarth was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area.  Taylor came to the rescue, however, diving to his left to keep the penalty out.  Harriers gradually began to exert themselves on the game and an Ashley Edkins cross from deep on the right was knocked back across goal by Andy White and Brian Smikle arrived late to head into the side netting.  Smikle had another good chance in the first half heading straight at home keeper Lewis Skyers while Sturridge missed a good chance, heading narrowly wide.

After the break Harriers made ten changes and took the lead after 57 minutes when Jonny Harkness' free-kick from wide on the right deceived Skyers and crept in at the near post.  Shortly afterwards Harriers should have doubled their advantage when Bob Taylor headed wide at the near post.

The second goal came 20 minutes from the end; the ball was played through the middle to Simon Russell who laid it off into the path of Michael McGrath who slotted it under Skyers.  Skyers kept the score down a couple of minutes later when saving a close range effort from Scott Eaton.

The advantage was reduced eight minutes from time; Harriers had a corner that was quickly cleared and the Cinderford substitute was allowed to run half the length of the field with the ball before blasting a 20 yard shot past Taylor into the top corner.  The home team sensed that they could get something out of the game and pressed forward, making Harriers hang on for their victory.  In the last minute they were awarded another penalty after Phil Walters was cimically adjudged to have tripped his man but Taylor again dived to his left to save.  Harriers counter-attacked and could have added another when McGrath's crossfield pass found Russell who fired over the bar.