Kidderminster Harriers 2 Boston United 0 - Report

It was the first time Harriers had beaten Boston United in a league fixture at York Street since 1992, but the visitors had to endure a second half onslaught before the Pilgrim’s were reduced to ten men when Jordan Gough picked up a second yellow card with fifteen minutes remaining.

Harriers Manager, Neil MacFarlane, welcomed back Dan Bradley to the squad following his three game ban for his dismissal against Ashton United but stuck to the same starting eleven that beat Stockport County more convincingly than the 2-1 scoreline suggested on Bank Holiday Monday.

Sixth in the table Boston United came into the game on the back of two defeats and were keen to start well but the impressive visitors would not let them settle.

Harriers deservedly went ahead on 14 minutes, Ed Williams started a run from just inside the Boston half, a couple of half –hearted challenges failed to stop the midfielder who then cut back onto his left foot and rolled the ball inside George Willis’ left hand post to make it 1-0.

The visitors continued their relentless march towards Willis’ goal and when Ben Davies escaped a booking for upending Joel Taylor, Harriers delivered a resounding blow. Declan Weeks floated free kick was headed down by Fraser Horsfall, the home defence partially cleared only for Ashley Chambers to crash a 20 yard right –footed volley through a crowded box and into the bottom right hand corner of the net to put them two up.

The impressive Williams was a constant threat and very nearly bettered his first half strike only to be denied by a last ditch challenge from Spencer Harris.

Boston had to come out in the second half and the Harriers defence held firm, Lee Vaughan cleared efforts from Ben Davies and Nicky Walker off his own goalline and made a dramatic block to keep out Harris’ close range effort as the visitors were forced back.

Harris himself provided the miss of the game firing over from a yard out from a Ben Davies corner before Ashley Chambers saw his goalbound effort cleared off the line by Ryan Qualter via the cross bar.

Gough’s rash challenge on Vaughan made the home side’s task harder and Harriers were happy to see out the game leaving Boston with a third successive defeat.

Teams

Boston United: Willis, Davies, Gough, Harris, Qualter, Roberts (Keane 46), Thanoj, Abbott, Wafula (Middleton 73), Westcarr (Johnson 63), Walker. Subs Not Used Marriott, Lees.

Kidderminster Harriers: Hall, Vaughan, Taylor (Austin 55), O’Connor, Horsfall, Johnson, Weeks, Daniels, Williams, Ironside (Richards 72), Chambers (Bradley 72). Subs Not Used Baxendale, Digie