Kidderminster Harriers Youth 4(3) v (0)0 RC Warwick Youth

Harriers cruised into the last sixteen of the league cup with a comfortable victory over Racing Club Warwick.

There was a dream start for the home team who took the lead after just two minutes; Alex Francis-Greer got free on the left and his cross was partially cleared, straight into the path of David Davis who fired through the hands of Warwick keeper Ashley Hooker.  Harriers were lively, knocking the ball around well, with Davis and Tom Byrne causing problems throughout for the Warwick defence.

The Harriers front three combined to create a great chance to double the advantage; Davis set Francis-Greer away on the left and his cross to the far post was met by Byrne who fired over the bar.  The second goal did come, after 20 minutes; a corner from the left was not cleared, Ray Facey fired the loose ball back into the penalty area and Joe Corbett turned and swept it into the bottom corner of the net.  The third goal arrived soon after, a deep cross from the right by Byrne was controlled well by Davis who took it into the penalty area before slotting it past Hooker.

Harriers should have had more to show for their domination, Davis broke clear again on the left and his cross to the opposite flank sought out Byrne but he was stretching when he met it and could only direct his shot straight at the keeper.  The visitors' best chance of the half came in stoppage time; Gareth Williams was set free through the middle but Tom Harper did well to save his shot and then Ben Mazone fired the rebound against the bar.

After the break Harriers continued to dominate but Warwick, to their credit, continued to try to find a way back into the game.  Harriers created several more chances, Davis should have done better with one on the hour when set up by Francis-Greer but he shot straight at Hooker.  Warwick substitute Joe Holcroft could have given the visitors a lifeline but he shot straight at Tom Harper in the Harriers goal.

Harriers' fourth was the best goal of the night, Byrne jinked his way into the penalty area on the right leaving three defenders trailing in his wake before pulling the ball back towards Francis-Greer who helped it on its way to the far post where Davis was on hand to score from close range and complete his hat-trick.  In stoppage time sub Levi Chambers, on for Francis-Greer, could have added a fifth when a long pass through the middle of the Warwick defence set him clear on goal but Hooker reacted well to his shot and pushed it over the bar for a corner.