Boss believes Harriers are on track

Kidderminster Harriers manager Steve Burr believes preparations for the new season are well on course after a narrow defeat against Walsall at Aggborough.

Burr's side played some eye-catching football to take a two-goal lead into the half-time but the Saddlers fought back after the break to win 3-2.

He said: "I was delighted with the work-out and I thought in the first half we put on a really excellent performance.

"I thought we kept our shape well, passed it well and created a number of chances to score.

"It was nice to score a couple of goals against a side in League One and Ryan Austin's goal in particular was fantastic.

"I actually thought the move of the match was the chance for James Vincent but he couldn't just finish it off.

"We have a lot of work still ahead of us before the Lincoln game but things are taking shape."

Harriers made a bright start to contest as they passed the ball with confidence but it was the Saddlers who came closest to scoring.

In the 13^th minute, Harriers goalkeeper Danny Lewis was forced to make a diving save from a low Adam Chambers shot.

However, the home side took the lead in spectacular fashion two minutes later after Walsall failed to clear a corner from Danny Pilkington.

The ball dropped to Austin, who showed brilliant technique to execute a left-foot volley which gave Walsall goalkeeper Jimmy Walker no chance.

Harriers doubled their lead in the 31st minute when substitute Marvin Johnson's mazy dribble culminated in a low finish, which deflected off Walker into the roof of the net.

The impressive Florent Cuvelier twice went close with low shots from distance which brought fine saves out of Lewis.

Will Grigg should also have done better from close range shortly before half-time.

Walsall pulled a goal back straight after the break when Jamie Paterson created a shooting opportunity near the corner of the 18-yard box.

Paterson slid a low shot past unsighted substitute goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan - a trialist set to sign for the club - in the Harriers goal.

If there was an element of fortune about Paterson's first goal, his second in the 61st minute oozed class.

Paterson twisted and turned inside the penalty area before a curling the ball past Vaughan to equalise.

Grigg made amends for his first-half miss with a quality finish to win the match six minutes later.

The Northern Ireland international sealed a fine second-half display for the Saddlers as he rifled the ball past the hapless Vaughan.