Wealdstone 1 – 4 Kidderminster Harriers

Kidderminster Harriers Website Match Report

TEN-MAN Harriers produced a stunning away display to win 4-1 at Wealdstone on Saturday.

Despite a questionable red card in the first half with Harriers a goal to the good, the visitors rallied and forced home their position with a clinical display in front of goal – Lewis Walker grabbing a brace on the day with Cian Harries and Callum Dolan also getting their firsts for the club.

Walker was quickly off the mark and put Harriers ahead on just four minutes. A dangerous Callum Stewart delivery was headed on to his own post by a Aidan Francis-Clarke, the Reds forward on the spot to instinctively smash the ball home.

Eight minutes later Luke Norris shaved the top of the bar with a rising effort at the other end, before a 19th-minute move saw Luey Giles, Max Brogan and Reece Devine all involved to sharply work the ball to Stewart – his shot rose over.

A long throw from Wealdstone on 25 minutes caused problems for Harriers and saw Francis-Clarke’s header saved by Wint, before the visitors saw themselves reduced to ten men when Angus MacDonald was sent off for an adjudged high foot, though little or no contact was made with a Wealdstone player.

The home side then levelled seconds later as a corner was nodded back across goal for skipper Connor McAvoy to finish. That understandably put the Stones in the ascendency, but Harriers stood firm until the break.

Harriers started the second half brightly despite the numerical disadvantage and, with the period just 35 seconds old, the Reds had a penalty after Dolan was upended. That man himself stood up to take the kick from 12 yards, putting the ball just beyond the dive of Dante Baptiste.

Less than ten minutes later it was 3-1 as Harriers kept up the pressure on Wealdstone. A deep freekick by Dolan was nodded back across goal by David Davis where Harries was on hand to sweep powerfully into the net leaving Baptiste with no chance.

The Reds didn’t have it all their own way. Wealdstone did get forward on a number of occasions, but only truly managed to trouble Wint once, when Micah Obiero latched on to a 69th minute cross to stab towards goal from eight yards, the shot-stopper showing superb reactions to block it.

Harriers capitalised and, with ten minutes left to play, Walker made sure of the points in superb style. Devine nodded down a forward ball into his path but even at that stage, there seemed limited danger. Walker, though, kept the ball and cut inside before rolling a calm finish with fantastic accuracy beyond Baptiste and into the far corner to the delight of the travelling fans.

Saturday’s game was halted during the first half due to medical emergencies within the home end at Wealdstone. All at Harriers send their thoughts and best wishes to those taken ill on the day.