North Ferriby United 1 Kidderminster Harriers 3 - Report

Manager John Eustace made four changes to the side that gained a draw at Spennymoor, goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan, defender Joel Taylor and strikers’ George Waring and Andre Brown getting the opportunity to stake a claim for the extension to the season play-offs.

Victory also assured Harriers of home advantage in the play off quarter final but, as yet, their opponents will not be known until the final round of fixtures next Saturday.

For the villagers of North Ferriby United, promoted to the National League courtesy of the play-off system in 2016, this was a second successive relegation and it is difficult to see a way back for the FA Trophy winners of three years ago, beset by financial problems and a swift rise up the pyramid, sustaining that level of success was always going to lead to problems.

Only a few years ago their opponents came close to collapse but a new direction and purpose, despite relegation from the National League in 2016, has seen Kidderminster Harriers reach the play-offs for a second time, winning friends around the league for the style of football introduced by John Eustace.

Harriers took control of the game on 17 minutes, Jimmy O’Connor flicked on James McQuilkin’s near post corner and George Waring stretched his right leg to fire the ball into the roof of Ross Durrant’s goal.

Leading marksman Joe Ironside soon added to that tally rising to powerfully send his header back across Durrant to give the visitors a two goal lead with only 25 minutes gone.

Ross Durrant then kept North Ferriby in the game, first he superbly tipped over Andre Brown’s fierce drive and then parried away a Ryan Croasdale effort on the stroke of half time.

Harriers only concern was an injury to Fraser Horsfall, withdrawn after Joe Ironside’s goal with a slight ankle injury.

The second half saw North Ferriby push Harriers back substitute Ben Clappison seeing his effort blocked by the chest of Nathan Vaughan before Harriers netted a third goal.

Lee Vaughan raced onto Declan Weeks Crossfield ball to drill a shot beyond Durrant to register the 100th league goal conceded by the home side in the 62nd minute

North Ferriby regained some pride with a consolation goal fourteen minutes from time Jack Mail getting the final touch to a Jack Walters corner.

North Ferriby: Durrant, Cooke, Walters, Robson (Clappison 4), Piercey, Mail, Harrison (Smith 70), Forrester, Nichols (Walker 60), Johnson, Lofts Subs: Exall, Dunkerley

Kidderminster Harriers: Vaughan N, Vaughan L, Taylor, O’Connor, Horsfall (Digie 27), Croasdale (Austin 67), Weeks, Brown, McQuilkin (Truslove 70), Waring, Ironside. Subs: Sonupe, Ngwatala.