Fairytale FA Cup night as Kidderminster Harriers beat Peterborough

Managers in their second game don't often mastermind a famous win.

And things like that certainly don't happen in big games like FA Cup third round replays against teams two divisions above.

Both happened last night at London Road as Kidderminster Harriers wrote another piece of FA Cup history.

Wembley way! Kidderminster Harriers are giant-killers after FA Cup win

Two decades on from their historic wins over Birmingham City and Preston, the Aggborough club are at it again, into the fourth round and heading to Premier League Sunderland. They are there courtesy of Joe Lolley, a player who today will leave for Huddersfield United, who scored a superb winning goal with 14 minutes remaining.

And they are there because of a manager, Andy Thorn, who this time last week was only just getting used to the fact he was back in management.

Thorn's arrival at Aggborough came after the shock sacking of Steve Burr, who along with assistant Gary Whild played their part in this triumph too.

Coming into a tough situation, Thorn could barely have made a better start and there were signs the team have quickly bought into his way.

It was an excellent team display, full of the passion you would expect in such an important game but with the controlled aggression necessary when needed.

Harriers were fully deserving of the win. Trailing to a scrappy Tommy Rowe goal at half-time, they stunned the hosts with two goals in the opening six minutes of the second half courtesy of Michael Gash and Jack Byrne.

Posh drew level courtesy of Britt Assombalonga's penalty but before the home crowd had chance to return to their seats Lolley had restored the lead, driving a left-footed shot past keeper Bobby Olejnik from 25 yards out. From then on there was only one winner as stunned Posh failed to muster an Alamo.

The first meeting had seen the bar struck in the opening 90 seconds but there was a far more sedate pace to proceedings here as both sides appeared to be weighing each other up.

But after a fairly eventless start it was Harriers who had the first effort on goal when Lee Fowler pounced on a loose ball but could only fire wide from just inside the 18 yard box.

Olejnik was the first keeper to be tested but was never likely to have trouble with a Lolley shot which lost much of its pace when the Harriers striker could only direct it into the ground.

Peterborough's first attempt came from Shaun Jeffers when he nodded over and soon they were ahead, as Kearns' seemingly innocuous cross somehow found its way to Rowe who managed to direct the ball home. Harriers needed a way back and they almost got it when Amari Morgan-Smith went through only to fire straight at Olejnik.

The hosts, solid if unspectacular, could have been further ahead at the break had Jeffers been able to do better with two efforts from inside the box which were both put wide of the target.

If there had been a flat feeling to first half proceedings, it was soon forgotten three minutes into the restart when Danny Jackman crossed from the left and Gash arrived at the far post to power a header past Olejnik from six yards out. Stung, Posh looked for instant response and almost got it when Mark Little jinked into the box and fired a shot off the far post.

But it was Harriers who were soon celebrating again, this time when Lolley raced down the right and found Byrne unmarked on the edge of the box. The midfielder had time to take a touch before firing beyond Olejnik and into the bottom corner.

Peterborough didn't exactly bombard Harriers after that but they did draw level with 16 minutes to go when Assombalonga found a pocket of space before being upended by Lee Vaughan. Referee Andy D'Urso pointed to the spot and Assombalonga stepped up to fire past Lewis.

But Harriers didn't cave and within two minutes were back ahead courtesy of Lolley's stunner.

Jeffers headed over from close range and Swanson saw a shot blocked as the clock ticked down but Posh never looked like wrecking the story.

A fairytale finish for Lolley. A fairytale beginning for Thorn. A fairytale which goes on for Kidderminster Harriers.

Matt Maher