Lye Town Youth 1(1) v (1)3 Kidderminster Harriers Youth

Harriers marched on into the last four of the League Cup, coming from behind to beat ten-man Lye in a thrilling cup tie.

Western Division leaders Lye were so far unbeaten in Floodlit League and Cup action all season and adapted to the blustery conditions and terrible pitch better than Harriers in the opening stages.  Harriers wasted a great chance to open the scoring after just two minutes when Scott Eaton headed over from Luke Astley's cross but it was the home team who took the lead after 16 minutes when Jason Potter mis-hit his shot from the edge of the penalty area after being set up by Adam Shaw, sending the ball looping over Tom Harper into the far corner.

Lye should have gone further ahead when leading scorer Jason Powner set Marcus Weston clear on goal but his shot under Harper lacked power and Troy Manning was able to get back and clear.  Harriers drew level just before the half-hour mark; Tom Byrne's free kick from the left corner of the penalty area was lofted to the far post where Kevin Marsh headed past his own keeper.  Shortly afterwards Lye were reduced to ten men when Steve Bull was on the receiving end of a crunching tackle from Alex Dawson and made his displeasure known to the referee who sent him off for using foul and abusive language.  Harriers could have gone ahead late in the half; Nathan Walker's clearance set Mitch Butler clear on goal but his control let him down and the home defence were able to get back and clear the danger.

After the break harriers began to impose themselves on the game although it was the home side who went closest to re-establishing their lead first when Watson volleyed wide after a good run and cross from Phil Pope and then when Daniel Lockley curled a free-kick over the wall and just over the bar.   Shawn Salmon was denied by quick reactions from Ben Hickman in the home goal as he burst through the heart of the Lye defence but it was not long until Harriers were ahead.  Lye won a free kick on the left that was lofted high into the Harriers penalty area, Harper got up well to claim it and his long punt forward set Butler clear on goal, he held off his marker before lifting his shot over Hickman to record his eleventh goal of the season.

The result was settled soon afterwards when Harriers added a third; Byrne broke free on the right and rolled the ball square to Eaton, his shot was blocked by Hickman but when Nathan Walker played it back into the danger area Eaton made no mistake with his second shot.  Another run on the left by Pope opened up the Harriers defence but his low cross was blocked by Dawson and then Astley made a good tackle to deny Powner who was following up.  In stoppage time Tom Meyrick should have added a fourth goal but headed Byrne's cross over from close range.