Kidderminster Harriers suffer play-off agony

Their dreams were shattered by a goal in each half from Adam Boyes and Oli Johnson. It is the second season in a row that boss John Eustace’s side have been knocked out in the play-off stages.

Kidderminster made several changes from the side which lost 2-1 at home in the league against Bradford last Saturday.

Back into the starting line-up came regular first teamers Fraser Horsfall, Jimmy O’Connor, James McQuilkin, Ryan Croasdale and Joe Ironside.

Harriers made a decent start with Elton Ngwatala setting up the chance for James McQuilkin to fire in a shot which was deflected wide by Rob Atkinson for a fruitless corner after just two minutes.

The visitors, however, went ahead in the 10th minute when Johnson picked up a loose ball and knocked to it to former Aggborough loanee Boyes who scored with a neatly struck shot.

Stunned Harriers set about trying to get back on terms with visiting goalkeeper Steven Drench having to deal with a shot from Ngwatala before Dan Bradley had an effort blocked by Shane Killock.

Shortly afterwards both sides tried shots from distance with Wayne Brooksby going wide for Bradford and Bradley suffering a similar fate for Kidderminster.

Harriers were denied an equaliser in the 39th minute when acrobatic Drench dived to push over a fierce 25-yard drive from Bradley.

A couple of minutes later the keeper again excelled, this time knocking away a header from Joe Ironside.

Harriers soon began pushing forward after the break and Ngwatala tried his luck with a shot which bounced awkwardly in front of Drench who just managed to deflect the ball away for a corner with his shoulder.

The hosts kept plugging away and Declan Weeks fired high over the bar following a corner before Ironside had a close range header saved by Drench, who was then grateful to see a Bradley header fly just off target.

Joel Taylor was then guilty of missing a great chance in the second half when he hammered a shot high and wide.

After applying heavy pressure, Harriers survived two Bradford efforts hitting the post within a minute, firstly from Frank Mulhearn and then Boyes.

Bradford, however, were bang on target on 78 minutes when Johnson drilled home a cross from Boyes.

Teams

Harriers: Hall; L. Vaughan, O’Connor, Horsfall, Taylor; McQuilkin (Sonupe, 61), Croasdale, Weeks (Waring, 79); Ngwatala, Ironside, Bradley. Subs not used: Brown, Austin, Pearson.

Bradford PA: Drench; Ross, Killock, Havern, Atkinson; Brooksby, Wroe, Spencer, Johnson; Mulhern (Vidal, 84); Boyes. Subs not used: Hall, Toulson, Boshell, Smith.

Referee: Declan Bourne (Notts).

Attendance: 2,291 (79 away fans).