Kidderminster Harriers 4 Newport County 2 - Match analysis
Kidderminster Harriers manager Steve Burr praised his FA Cup battlers after they swept aside League Two side Newport County to earn a home third round clash against Peterborough United, writes Chris Oldnall.
Michael Gash and Callum Gittings both bagged a brace to enable Burr to celebrate his 200th match in charge at Aggborough with a memorable win.
Impressive Harriers stormed into a 3-0 half-time lead and then increased their advantage before Newport notched a couple of late consolation goals through Robbie Willmott.
The victory, which earned £27,000 in prize-money, delighted Burr, whose troops are now unbeaten in their last 10 home league and cup matches.
He said: "It will be something I will remember for a long, long time to get to the third round.
"I thought the lads were excellent. We've a good group of players here and they showed that again." here.
Harriers, who had beaten former Conference rivals Newport in their previous four meetings, took the lead in the 19th minute when captain Kyle Storer engineered the chance for Gash to score with a superbly executed curling shot with the outside of his right boot from the edge of the area.
The visitors found themselves 2-0 adrift on 28 minutes when goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley pushed away a Joe Lolley shot before Gittings netted with a deflected drive.
Harriers raced further in front in the 43rd minute when a defence-splitting pass by Lolley allowed Gittings to run in on goal and steer the ball coolly past Pidgeley.
Newport's task became mission impossible on 63 minutes when a well rehearsed free-kick routine resulted in Gash drilling the ball home from 20 yards.
Stunned Newport eventually found a way through the solid Aggborough rear-guard in the 79th minute when they pulled a goal back through Willmott, who added a second four minutes later, but too late to stop Harriers from powering into the next round.
Kidderminster: Lewis; L Vaughan, Gowling, Dunkley, Jackman; Storer, Fowler; Gittings (Byrne, 73); Gash, Lolley, Morgan-Smith (Johnson, 70). Subs not used: N Vaughan, Demetriou, Malbon, Blissett, Dance.
Newport: Pidgeley; Oshilaja (Flynn, 67), Worley, Hughes; Willmott, Minshull (Jolley, 46), Naylor, Chapman, Jackson; Crow (Sandell, 64), Washington. Subs not used: Stephens, Pipe, Jones, Barker.
Referee: Mark Heywood (Cheshire).
Attendance: 2,636 (537 away fans).
