Stockport County 1 Kidderminster Harriers 2 - Report

Harriers made an enforced change in the line-up Sam Austin replacing the suspended Jim O’Connor and started with a good tempo at Edgeley Park against a Stockport side whose inconsistent performances have been a talking point since the season started.

The weather conditions made it difficult for both sides as Stockport took advantage of the wind and driving rain at their back in an entertaining first half.

County forced a number of early corners that posed problems for the Harriers defence, Jason Oswell directing his downward header over the visitor’s crossbar.

On 16 minutes Harriers had a let off, Joe Ironside looked as though he had handled Ben McKenna’s centre but referee Ricky Wootton waved home appeals away and Stephen O’Halloran drilled an effort beyond Brandon Hall only for Fraser Horsfall to make a goal-line clearance.

Harriers made a little headway towards the home goal but James McQuilkin and Elton Ngwatala both saw their attempts go wide of the target.

Stockport resumed the offensive forcing nine first half corners, but Harriers somehow managed to keep the home side at bay.

On the stroke of half-time Stockport netted an all important goal, a long ball down the centre caught Harriers square and Matty Warburton raced through to pass the ball into an unguarded net with Brandon Hall stranded.

Harriers second half performance was exhilarating, Ryan Croasdale and Andre Brown crashed efforts against the woodwork and sandwiched between those efforts was a well worked equalising goal.

On 58 minutes Sam Austin raced down the right, his centre deflected off Scott Duxbury and Ironside reacted first to glance the looping ball beyond keeper Ian Ormson to bring Harriers level.

Harriers pressed forward in earnest, Declan Weeks saw his shot fly narrowly wide, Mani Sonupe had his effort parried away and Ryan Croasdale had a goalbound shot blocked before Ironside set up a rousing finale.

Croasdale capped an excellent game releasing Sonupe down the right wing and the youngster’s low centre was swept home for his eighth goal of the campaign by the lively Ironside on the stroke of full time to lift Harriers to ninth in the table.

Teams

Stockport County: Ormson, Cowan (Thomas 90+1), O’Halloran (Walker 71), Ball, Clarke, Smalley, McKenna, Stopforth, Oswell, Warburton, Duxbury (Dixon 90+3). Subs Not Used: Winter, Hinchcliffe.

Harriers: Hall, Austin, Williams, Horsfall, Taylor, Croasdale, Ngwatala (Weeks 52) , Ironside, Sonupe (Finch 90+1), McQuilkin, Wright (Brown 57). Subs Not Used: Howkins, Danko.