Worcester City 7(1) v (0)2 Kidderminster Harriers

A dismal performance from Harriers saw them crash to their heaviest defeat for two seasons, conceding six second-half goals to local rivals Worcester City who return to the top of the league.

The first half was one-sided with City on top of the game from the start.  There was a sign of things to come after 18 minutes when Troy Wood fired over an open goal from inside the six-yard box.  Shortly afterwards Paul Arthur came to Harriers' rescue with a close range save from Ben Walker who was allowed free header at Sam Wedgebury's corner.

Another corner from Wedgebury found Gary Walker unmarked a few minutes later and he, this time, made no mistake in heading City in front.  There could have been a second goal for the home team shortly before the interval but Wood's free kick was hit straight at Arthur.

The second half was just as one-sided but Harriers collapsed under the pressure.  The Harriers defence went missing just two minutes into the new period as the ball was played through on the left for Wood to chase and he rifled it past Arthur from a narrow angle to double the lead.  Harriers finally managed to bring the City goalkeeper into the game after 51 minutes, Daniel Ludlow's cross from the left found Mitch Butler who couldn't get enough power into his header and it was an easy save.

The third goal was similar to the second in the way that the Harriers defence was split wide open by a through ball, this time Wood tucked his shot past Arthur.  The fourth goal, on 52 minutes, was a mis-hit cross by Alex Woodhouse from the left that deceived Arthur and went straight in.

Harriers pulled one back just after the hour mark; Ludlow and Richard Young combining on the left with the latter's cross finding Butler who flicked it over the keeper from just inside the penalty area. Any hope of a revival was short-lived as five minutes later a long kick from the City keeper beat the Harriers defence leaving Arthur exposed and he was lobbed from outside the penalty area by Harry Williams to make it 5-1.

Shortly before the end Butler went close with a 20-yard shot that was pushed away fro a corner but it was City who scored again next.  Arthur brought down Wood in the penalty area and it was Wood himself who took the penalty to complete his hat-trick.  Levi Chambers headed in from a Ludlow cross to reduce the arrears in the last minute but the rout was completed in stoppage time by Wood who lobbed Arthur from well over 30 yards out on the left wing.