Kidderminster Harriers Reserves 2(0) v (1)1 Burton Albion Reserves

Harriers began their Central Conference campaign with a win, coming from behind to beat Burton Albion at Aggborough.

There was a chance to impress for three trialists who joined the fringe players from the first team squad as they faced a young Albion side.  Harriers dominated the game and had most of the possession, passing the ball well but, like the first team, with little end product.  The industrious Andy White ran himself into the ground for the Harriers cause and it was he who created the first real chance of the game.  Having beaten left back James Slack he pulled the ball back into the goalmouth for Scott Eaton at the near post whose close range effort was turned around the post by Adam bond for a corner.

At the other end Steve Taylor was tested when Oliver Hancock pounced on Neil Howarth's clearance and rifled in a low shot from 25 yards out.  Late in the half a cross-field pass from captain Simon Russell set Michael McGrath free on the left in acres of space, his chip beat Bond but found only the side netting.  Against the run of play Burton took the lead three minutes before the break; Taylor spilled Hancock's long range shot, only just managing to recover to keep it out of the net, but the rest of the Harriers defence was static as Leon Ashman followed up to steer the loose ball into the net.

After the break Harriers continued to dominate, and looked more likely to score following the introduction of Bob Taylor.  He combined with Russell just after the hour mark to create a chance for White but he volleyed over the bar.  Taylor then became creator for Jamie McClen who cut inside from the right and tucked a low shot past Bond to level the scores.

White had the ball in the net, heading in from Taylor's flick on, after 72 minutes but the goal was ruled out as White had fouled Bond in the process.  Late on Burton had a great chance to retake the lead; Alex Britton jinked his way into the penalty area and pulled the ball back for Karl Wayte but he blasted his shot wide.  Harriers' winner came five minutes from the end; White flicked on for Russell who found McGrath and he curled his shot round Bond from the edge of the penalty area.  Moments later Taylor could have added to the lead with a glancing header from Russell's right wing cross that went wide of the far post.