Sunderland 1 Kidderminster Harriers 0 - match report and pictures

Andy Thorn's Skrill Premier side avoided a landslide win for the top-flight outfit despite conceding a goal to Charis Mavrias as early as the fifth minute.

They held the Black Cats at bay with some superb defending but struggled to pose a regular threat, although leading scorer Michael Gash failed to make the most of a glorious chance shortly after the home goal.

Thorn's men, who play four levels below the Wearside club, had a couple of chances late on but saw their adventure come to an end.

Kidderminster were forced to withstand some pressure straight from the kick-off, with Lee Vaughan making a vital clearance at the far post in the opening two minutes to prevent Mavrias pouncing on a cross from Ondrej Celustka.

But the reprieve lasted only until the fifth minute, when hesitant defending from the visitors handed the hosts the opening goal.

Josh Gowling's attempted clearance went straight to the feet of Mavrias, who completed a cool from eight yards.

Four minutes later Harriers missed a glorious chance to draw level when Emanuele Giaccherini's over-hit backpass eluded Lee Cattermole and fell straight to Michael Gash, who was unmarked in the box but saw his shot saved by Oscar Ustari in the Black Cats' goal.

But Sunderland retained the upper hand and might have doubled their lead on 14 minutes when Giaccherini seized on Seb Larsson's right-wing cross but sent a tame effort straight at Danny Lewis.

Kidderminster registered their first shot on 18 minutes when a lay-off by Gash on the edge of the area fell to Jack Byrne, who dragged his effort a yard wide.

Harriers regained their composure but the home side continued applying pressure and Giaccherini dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box on 25 minutes.

Harriers made an encouraging start to the second half and Jack Dyer, making his first start since signing on loan from Burton Albion, pulled a shot just wide from 20 yards 10 minutes after the restart.

But the visitors could not build any momentum and Sunderland continued to dominate possession, with substitute Fabio Borini blasting wastefully over the bar from distance midway through the half.

Thorn made three changes late on in a bid to conjure a goal, but his substitutes could not find a moment of magic.

Danny Jackman fired a left-footed effort off target late on after a rare Harriers break.

And debutant Frederick Lapado, who was on as a second-half substitute, had his side's best chance in the dying moments when he collected a Gash knock-down but sent his cross-shot narrowly past the far post.