Bromsgrove Rovers 0(0) v (1)4 Kidderminster Harriers

Harriers continued their unbeaten pre-season with a comfortable win over old-rivals Bromsgrove in bright sunshine at The Victoria Ground.

Mark Yates once again used the game to look at trialists with two given the chance to impress in the troublesome right-back position; former Brighton youngster Steve May playing the first half and Martyn Naylor, once of TNS, playing the second.  Dean Sturridge started the game for the second match in a row and continues to look sharper with each game he plays.

Harriers were always in control on a dreadful playing surface and nearly went ahead after ten minutes when Jamie McClen's right wing corner picked out Neil Howarth at the far post but his powerful header was hooked off the line by Paul Carty.  The breakthrough was not long in coming, however, as four minutes later Jake Sedgemore picked up the ball in midfield, advanced towards goal and unleashed a 20-yard drive that had veteran keeper Chris Taylor grasping at thin air.

Jonny Harkness crafted an opening that could have doubled the lead midway through the half, his deep cross from the left was hacked against the post by Rovers defender Joe Williams and scrambled away to safety.  Sedgemore also went close before the break with a free kick from just outside the penalty area that went over both the wall and the crossbar.

At the interval Harriers made the usual raft of changes, nine outfield substitutions, but were still in control of the game and went further ahead jut after the hour mark; Michael McGrath ran on to a pass over the home defence and after his first touch had forced him wide lashed a venomous shot in from a narrow angle.  Rovers had a brief spell midway through the half, Paul Lloyd got free on the right and crossed to the near post where Richard Burgess headed wide at the near post and then shortly afterwards Burgess got into the penalty area but his shot was well saved by Scott Bevan.

The third Harriers goal was another long-range effort, Brian Smikle playing the ball in from the right to Scott Eaton who lashed it into the roof of the net from 25 yards out.  The scoring was completed ten minutes from time when Rovers failed to reacted to Naylor's short corner and Harkness' cross from the right found the head of Bob Taylor who nodded in his first goal in a Harriers shirt.