Wrexham 2 Kidderminster Harriers 1 - match report
Kidderminster Harriers trail halfway through their Blue Square Premier play-off semi-final after Neil Ashton's late penalty at the Racecourse Ground gave Wrexham a narrow first-leg advantage.
The Welsh side lead 2-1 heading into Sunday's second leg at Aggborough with both sides still dreaming of a trip to Wembley.
David Artell gave the Red Dragons the lead in first-half stoppage time just hours after the Welsh FA cleared him to play despite a red card against Mansfield on Saturday.
Michael Gash levelled the game for Steve Burr's team with a second-half penalty, only for Ashton to restore Wrexham's advantage with five minutes remaining.
Wrexham shaded a first half of few chances and they forced good save early on from Harriers keeper Danny Lewis, who dived low to turn away a firm shot from veteran striker Brett Ormerod.
Harriers played some pleasing football but the struggled to carve out clear chances and Lewis was the busier keeper, claiming another effort from Ormerod midway through the half.
And Ormerod turned provider as the hosts took the lead in first-half stoppage-time.
He twisted on the right before swinging a cross into the goalmouth, with Artell on hand to score with a close-range header.
The goal was controversial as the Welsh FA had overturned Artell's three-match suspension on the afternoon of the game.
Wrexham went close to a second goal shortly after half-time when Johnny Hunt's instinctive shot from an Ormerod cross flew just over the crossbar.
But Harriers were level on 55 minutes when their former defender Martin Riley chopped down Anthony Malbon in the box and Gash hammered the spot-kick low past Chris Maxwell.
Wrexham regained their lead with five minutes remaining, however, after Josh Gowling was adjudged to have fouled Ormerod in the Harriers goalmouth.
Full-back Ashton stepped up to convert a cool penalty.
By Steve Madeley
