Stockport 1 Kidderminster Harriers 0 - Report
Kidderminster Harriers fell to a second single goal reversal in the space of four days and their recent form, with just one win in their last seven league outings, also saw them drop two places to ninth in Vanarama National League North and outside the play-offs for the first time this season.
Sam Minhan’s header, from Scott Duxbury’s 87th minute corner was enough to maintain Stockport County’s run of good form who moved up to third as they made it six games without defeat.
Both Kidderminster Harriers and Stockport were forced into making changes for the clash at Edgeley Park, the visitors lost Billy Daniels and Ed Williams to injuries sustained in the Boxing Day loss at Hereford whilst County had been hit by a mini flu bug which accounted for Jordan Keane, Jake Kirby and Connor Dimaio.
Dan Bradley had tried his luck from long range with a shot that was comfortably held by Ben Hinchliffe before Stockport imposed themselves.
Matt Warburton twice had chances to open the scoring denied by the legs of Brandon Hall before volleying wide with his second opportunity. On 17 minutes substitute Darren Stephenson latched onto Hinchliffe’s long clearance to stab the ball beyond the advancing Hall but also wide of the target.
Adam Thomas was next to test the reflexes of Hall who kept out his close range volley before Stephenson again went close with an angled drive.
Harriers were restricted to long range efforts with Kane Richards effort smothered by the diving Hinchliffe on 31 minutes and Russ Penn’s half volley moments later taken by the keeper.
James Baxendale blasted over after being set up by Dan Bradley as the visitors responded but the home side thought they had netted on 41 minutes when Frank Mulhern headed home from Ash Palmer’s flick but the referee had noticed an infringement.
The second half offered fewer clear chances as the sides cancelled each other out, Dan Bradley the closest to breaking the deadlock when his 71st minute strike was deflected into the grateful arms of keeper Ben Hinchliffe.
With 3 minutes remaining the home side got the breakthrough their first half performance deserved, another set piece from a corner proving Harriers undoing as Sam Minihan reacted quickest to head past Hall and leave the visitors pointless from their two Christmas fixtures.
Stockport County: Hinchliffe, Minihan, Duxbury, Turnbull, Palmer, Stott, Thomas (Cowan 79), Walker (Stephenson 8), Mulhern (Bell 79), Osborne, Warburton. Subs Not Used: Jackson, Ormson(g/k).
Kidderminster Harriers: Hall, Vaughan, Austin, Horsfall, Johnson, Baxendale (Phillips 45), Penn, Weeks, Chambers, Bradley, Richards (Waring 57). Subs Not Used: O’Connor, White, Palmer(g/k).
