Kidderminster Harriers 3 Nuneaton Town 0 - Report
Joe Ironside scored a penalty against his former club to help Kidderminster Harriers clinch a 3-0 National League North win over nine-man Nuneaton Town at Aggborough.
It was the on-song striker’s 15th goal of the season and his seventh in Harriers’ last seven matches.
Manny Sonupe and Liam Truslove also hit the target against struggling Nuneaton who had Tom Elliott and Ryan Beswick sent off shortly before half time.
The win stretched on-form Harriers’ unbeaten league and cup run to nine games.
They are also undefeated in their last 13 home outings, having not lost at Aggborough since the opening day of the season.
Promotion hopefuls Kidderminster recalled influential midfielder James McQuilkin into their starting line-up after he had been a substitute in the previous Saturday’s home Buildbase FA Trophy first round win over York City. He replaced Sam Austin who was on the subs bench.
The visitors included two former Aggborough campaigners in their side – goalkeeper Dean Lyness and front-runner Dan Nti.
Kidderminster, who lost 1-0 at Nuneaton at the start of the season, got off to a worrying start by having Tyrone Williams injured inside the opening couple of minutes, but after lengthy on-the-field treatment was able to carry.
The defender’s injury came just after Harriers’ goalkeeper Brandon Hall had been called on smother the ball at on-rushing Ashley Chambers’ feet.
Hall’s opposite number Lyness was then needed to save with difficulty following a deflected shot from distance by Elton Ngwatala.
Harriers struggled to get any fluency into their play with several passes going astray before they finally took the chance to go in front in the 31st minute.
A long goal kick by Hall caused problems for the visiting rear-guard which finally resulted in Sonupe being able to keep his calm and steer the ball into the net through Lyness’ legs. It was his 11th goal of the season.
Worse was to follow for Nuneaton when they had Elliott sent off on 42 minutes for picking up two quick-fire yellow cards.
Their misery then increased on the stroke of half time when they went down to nine men when captain Beswick was shown a straight red following a foul on Declan Weekes.
Harriers made it 2-0 seven minutes into the second period when Ironside slotted home a penalty after Joel Taylor had been tripped just inside the area by Chambers.
Shortly afterwards they nearly made it 3-0 when a fierce drive from McQuilkin rebounded off Ironside who could not get out of the way of the shot while stood on the goalline.
Harriers drafted on defender Lee Vaughan after 70 minutes for his first competitive game since breaking his leg eight months ago.
John Eustace’s side completed the scoring when substitute Truslove side-footed the ball past Lyness on 87 minutes.
Teams
Kidderminster: Hall; Pearson Williams (Austin, 46), Horsfall, Taylor; Weeks (Vaughan, 70), Croasdale; McQuilkin (Truslove, 61), Sonupe, Ngwatala; Ironside. Subs not used: Brown, Wright.
Nuneaton: Lyness; Heaton, Gascoigne, Ashton (Dielna, 55), Wildin; Elliott, Ferry, Beswick; Nicholson, Chambers, Nti (McFarlane, 68). Subs not used: Daniels, Taylor, Mitchell.
Referee: Dean Watson (Lancs)
Attendance: 1,510 (53 away fans).
