Kidderminster Harriers 2 York City 1 - Report

Hero Bradley bagged his smartly taken brace during the second half of an entertaining clash.

It was the first time he had found the net this season during his second spell at the club.

Harriers, who knocked York out of the Buildbase FA Trophy with a 2-1 home first round win in December, made three changes from the side which lost 1-0 at relegation threatened Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Brandon Hall returned after being sidelined with a thigh injury while James McQuilkin and Manny Sonupe returned to the starting line-up. Elton Ngwatala was ruled out through injury.

Harriers caused the visitors an early problem when a dangerous cross from Declan Weeks was knocked away by under pressure goalkeeper Adam Bartlett, who then managed to grab hold of the ball at the second attempt.

The Minstermen responded with a fierce drive from Louis Almond which was well saved at the near post by Hall.

Shortly afterwards they were grateful to former Aggborough campaigner Bartlett who pushed a long distance shot from Weeks onto the post before the danger was cleared.

Both attack-minded sides produced free-flowing football and created a number of shooting opportunities with man-of-the-match Bradley going inches wide for Harriers before Hall did well to stop a fierce shot from Dave Ferguson.

Almond also went narrowly wide during the closing stages of the opening half in which Sonupe and Ryan Croasdale went close before skipper Croasdale deflected in a Bradley shot, but the ‘goal’ was disallowed for offside.

Both teams continued to push forward whenever possible in the second period which was 13 minutes old when Harriers nosed into the lead.

McQuilkin set up the opening by robbing Sean Newton before giving Lee Vaughan the chance to send over a high cross for Bradley to powerfully head home.

York soon set about trying to get back into the game, but Jon Parkin wasted a good chance when he ran in on goal in the 68th minute.

Harriers, however, stretched their lead on 72 minutes when Bradley finished off a splendid build-up involving Sonupe and Weeks.

Battling York notched a consolation goal in stoppage time through Newton following some slopping defending by the hosts.

Teams

Kidderminster: Hall; Vaughan, Pearson, Horsfall, Taylor; Croasdale, Weeks, McQuilkin; Sonupe (Brown, 79), Ironside (Waring, 90+3), Bradley. Subs not used: Flatt, Austin, Smith.

York: Bartlett; Parslow, Bencherif, Newton; Brown, Pattison, Heslop (Moke, 46), Connolly (Kempster, 62), Ferguson; Almond (Smith, 51), Parkin. Subs not used: Burn, Simpson.

Referee: Scott Simpson (Stoke-on-Trent).

Attendance: 1,244 (91 away fans).