Kidderminster Harriers 4 Salford City 4 - Report

Smartly taken goals from Manny Sonupe, Joe Ironside, Lee Vaughan and Dan Bradley looked like earning Harriers an impressive victory before the Ammies netted four quick-fire goals, the equaliser arriving six minutes into stoppage time.

Boss John Eustace missed the memorable match due to a three-match FA stadium ban handed out for his involvement in a misconduct incident near the end of January’s clash at Chorley.

His duties were carried out by head of coaching Matt Gardiner.

Fourth placed Kidderminster, who lost 3-0 at Salford in August when substitute Jack Redshaw scored a second half hat-trick, were unchanged from their last outing when they triumphed 2-1 at home to York City.

Still on the casualty list are Elton Ngwatala (knee), Jimmy O’Connor (Achilles) and Liam Truslove (thigh).

Salford forced a couple of corners in the first few minutes, the second from Tom Walker being narrowly headed wide by Michael Nottingham.

Shortly afterwards Harriers responded well by twice going close to opening the scoring.

Firstly, a long range shot from Bradley bounced awkwardly before being saved with difficulty by goalkeeper Tim Erlandsson, who then did well to keep out a strong shot from Sonupe.

Kidderminster nosed ahead on 21 minutes when a clearance by Nottingham hit one of his own players before reaching skipper Ryan Croasdale who unselfishly laid the ball across goal for Sonupe to score from 10 yards. It was his 14th goal of the season.

Free flowing Harriers made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute when an excellent though ball by Lee Vaughan found Ironside who controlled the ball well before turning and sweeping in an angled left footed shot for his 19th goal of the campaign.

The Ammies made a change at the start of the second half by introducing former Aggborough striker Manny Dieseruvwe in place of Redshaw.

Harriers, however, continued to dominate and swept into a 4-0 lead with two goals in as many minutes.

Firstly, Declan Weeks set up the opportunity for Vaughan to hammer home a fierce shot past Erlandsson who was then beaten by a shot from Bradley whose chance was created by James McQuilkin.

Harriers continued to search for more goals and Bradley went near with a shot which was kept out by Erlandsson’s outstretched boot.

Battling Salford finally made a breakthrough in the 80th minute when the ball broke loose for substitute Josh Askew to fire past goalkeeper Brandon Hall.

They added a second on 89 minutes through sub Nick Haughton before Dierseruvwe made it 3-0 in the 90th minute.

Never-say-die Salford snatched a dramatic share of the spoils deep into stoppage time when Tom Walker scored from the rebound after he had had his penalty kick saved by Hall.

Teams

Kidderminster: Hall; L. Vaughan, Pearson, Horsfall, Taylor; Croasdale, Weeks, McQuilkin (Digie, 90); Sonupe (Austin, 71), Ironside (Brown, 75), Bradley. Subs not used: N. Vaughan, Waring.

Salford: Eerlandsson; Nottingham, Piergianni, Hogan, Touray; Maynard, Burton, Walker, Allen (Askew, 57); Dudley (Haughton, 55), Redshaw (Dieseruvwe, 46). Subs not used: Mafuta, Phenex.

Referee: Gareth Rhodes (Yorks).

Attendance|: 2,524.