FC United Of Manchester 2 Kidderminster Harriers 1

Harriers kept up the pressure on the sides around them as a first half goal from Joe Ironside, his fifteenth of the campaign put paid to a resilient but ineffective home side.

The margin of victory could have been greater but Harriers spurned a number of chances to give United feint hope of getting back into the contest.

Andy Fisher in the home goal was alert to deny Ashley Chambers in the early exchanges as Harriers started brightly.

Milan Butterfield suffered the same fate as did Joe Ironside and Fraser Horsfall with Harriers threatening to overrun the relegation threatened hosts.

Harriers finally broke the deadlock when Jan Palinkas’ rash challenge on Chambers allowed Joe Ironside to stroke the resultant penalty into the bottom right hand corner of Fisher’s net on 34 minutes.

Chambers goalbound effort was blocked by Chris Lynch and Horsfall headed narrowly wide as Harriers worked hard to add to their tally before the break.

The second half was fairly even in terms of possession but Harriers were again guilty of failing to see off the opposition, Joe Ironside forced a save from a header and Liam McAlinden’s shot was parried away.

Five minutes from the end Ed Williams finally beat the keeper only to see his effort cleared off the line by Zehn Mohammed.

Harriers pressed in the closing stages as the home side reverted to long through balls that were comfortably dealt with by Harry Flowers and Ryan Johnson but were unable to add to their score to keep alive their slim play-off chances.

Teams:

FC United: Fisher, Lynch, O’Halloran, Mohammed, Palinkas (McDowell-Jallow 46), Potts (Ozono 77), Bannister, Grimshaw, Willoughby, Myers, West (Donohue 46). Subs Not Used: Sharp, Peers.

Kidderminster Harriers: Palmer, Flowers, Taylor, Horsfall, Johnson, Butterfield, Chambers (Richards 82), Ironside (Thomas 82) , McAlinden, Williams, Austin. Subs Not Used: Penn, Higginson, Heaton.