Kidderminster Harriers 3 Bradford Park Avenue 0 - Report

Manager Mark Yates’ battlers were also boosted by a goal from Ironside’s strike partner Ashley Chambers

Eighth-in-the-table Harriers, with four games left in which to try to seal a play-off spot, are now three points behind seventh-placed AFC Telford United who have a match in hand.

Kidderminster, who triumphed 2-1 at Bradford in October thanks to a late brace from Ed Williams, made one change from the side which lost 2-1 at high-riding Altrincham the previous Saturday with Sam Austin returning after an ankle injury to replace Declan Weeks.

Weeks was on the casualty list along with Billy Daniels and Nick Clayton-Phillips.

Harriers produced the first major threat when a strong run through the Avenue defence by Liam McAlinden led to Ironside firing in a shot which was deflected for a fruitless corner.

Bradford responded with a neat build up between Nicky Clee and Lewis Knight which resulted in Danny East pulling the trigger on a fierce 20 yard pile-driver which fizzed just over the bar.

Both sides were playing at a hectic pace with Harriers forcing a corner after 18 minutes which led to them storming into the lead.

McAlinden took the flag kick which reached Chambers at the far post where he powered in a shot which goalkeeper Charlie Andrew managed to block only for the ball to break loose for Ironside to nod home from close range. It was the third match in a row he had found the net.

Bradford were always a threat when pushing forward and a fine run by Mark Ross enabled Alex Hurst to get in a shot which was expertly clawed away by alert goalkeeper Brandon Hall before the ball was booted out of the danger area.

Kidderminster hit back with a menacing cross from skipper Ryan Johnson which was headed inches wide by Ironside before the hosts went 2-0 ahead on 43 minutes when Chambers nodded home an excellent cross from Austin. It was his sixth goal in his last three home appearances.

Bradford made a promising start to the second half and it was not long before Jake Beesley had a shot kicked off the line by Milan Butterfield before East’s follow-up shot was smartly saved by Hall.

Shortly afterwards Clee was not far off target with a close range volley before Conor Branson tried his luck from distance with a drive which sailed high over the bar.

Knight then sent over a free kick which substitute Oli Johnson hit first time only to see his effort well pushed over by Hall.

Harriers battled their way back up field and were unlucky not to extend their lead when Williams saw his curling shot rebound off the post.

The hard working hosts, however, wrapped up their victory on 76 minutes when leading scorer Ironside headed home a cross from McAlinden.

Teams

Kidderminster: Hall; Horsfall, Flowers, Johnson; Austin, Butterfield, McAlinden, Taylor; Williams (Penn, 86); Chambers (Thomas, 86), Ironside. Subs not used: Palmer, Higginson, Richards.

Bradford: Andrew; Ross, Crichlow-Noble, Havern, Lowe; Knight (Nowakowski, 81), Branson, Hurst (Johnson 66), Clee, East (Spencer, 59); Beesley. Subs not sued: Toulson, Killock.

Referee: Michael Barlow.

Attendance: 1,606 (40 away fans).