Worcester City 2(1) v (0)0 Kidderminster Harriers

Harriers slumped to their second consecutive pre-season defeat after disappointing loss at local rivals Conference North side Worcester City.

Stuart Watkiss put out his strongest side, and made them all get through 90 minutes, and did not include any trialists.  Harriers should have taken the lead after just 40 seconds, Wayne Evans' cross from the right found Iyseden Christie but his looping header didn't have enough power and Danny McDonnell in the City goal was able to pluck it out of the air.

A lively opening to the game saw Worcester have chances too, a free kick was not cleared and Leon Kelly headed wide.  Harriers looked good in the early stages of the game and knocked the ball around well and should really have taken advantage of their possession; a comical mix-up in the City defence saw O'Donnell collide with Shabir Khan and the latter head the ball narrowly past his own goal.  Then, Michael Blackwood set up Iyseden Christie who saw his shot blocked and Blackwood's follow-up went wide.

Harriers were given another scare when one-time Harrier Les Hines was given too much time and space and hit a 30 yard drive that cannoned off the crossbar before City took the lead on 20 minutes. A Rob Warner free kick from the right was not dealt with properly by the Harriers defence and veteran defender Des Lyttle swept the ball in from close range.

For the remainder of the half Harriers continued to enjoy the greater share of possession but lacked the killer instinct in front of goal; Christie set up Lee Thompson who blazed over the bar from long range then Blackwood and Wayne Hatswell combined on the left with the latter crossing for Christie who was beaten to the ball by a Worcester defender at the expense of a corner and in the closing stages of the half the hard-working Christie had two more chances but dragged his shots wide on both occasions.

After the break the game continued in the same vein: Harriers enjoyed most of the possession, and looked good going forward, but once they were actually near the City goal they couldn't capitalise.  Thompson and Blackwood combined with the lively Blackwood setting up Thompson who shot wide from the edge of the penalty area then Terry Fleming had a shot blocked by Lyttle before Fleming set up Christie with a defence-splitting pass but the striker's shot was weak and O'Donnell was able to ave comfortably.

Fifteen minutes from the end Gareth Sheldon, receiving a pass from skipper Mark Jackson, brought the best save of the evening out of O'Donnell with a curling shot from 20 yards but with only a few minutes to go City doubled their advantage and sealed the win. A long ball out of defence cut out most of the Harriers back-line and deceived Wayne Hatswell who allowed Leon Kelly to get in behind him and rifle a shot past John Danby.  In the last minute they almost added a third when Kelly was allowed another clear run at goal and knocked the ball past the onrushing Danby but fortunately too far to be able to turn it into the net before Jackson got across to clear.