Kidderminster Harriers 3 Hereford 1 - Report

Ashley Hemmings also got on the scoresheet for Harriers while the visitors netted through former Kidderminster campaigner Reece Styche.

The victory, which lifted Jimmy Shan’s men above the Bulls in the table, was only their third home league win of the season and their first at Aggborough since October 22 when they triumphed 2-0 over Farsley Celtic.

Kidderminster, who had Ryan Johnson sent off in the closing stages, made one change from the side which drew 1-1 at Altrincham the previous Saturday.

Teenage striker Ethan Freemantle was called into the starting line-up for the first time to replace leading scorer Ashley Chambers, who is suffering from hamstring trouble.

Off the casualty list came Richard Peniket and Ed Williams who were both on the substitutes’ bench.

Still ruled out was Declan Weeks with a toe injury.

Harriers, who won 2-1 in the corresponding fixture last season, made promising start and a neat move led to a corner after just three minutes, but Ashley Hemmings deep kick came to nothing.

A few minutes later Hereford were awarded a 25 yard free kick which Peter Vincenti hammered into the solid Aggborough defensive ‘wall’.

Styche then tried his luck from distance with a drive which flew wide before Harriers responded with an attack which led to a cross that was headed high over the bar by Freemantle.

Harriers forged ahead on 23 minutes when the ball broke for Shenton to hit a well struck shot which appeared take the slightest of deflections before entering the inside of the far post. It was his first goal for the club.

The hosts stretched their lead on the half hour mark when Shenton pounced again. This time he netted with a close range shot after the Bulls had failed to deal with a dangerous cross by Sam Austin.

Harriers began the second half on the front foot and within a minute Johnson smacked a powerful rising shot over the bar.

Another good raid shortly afterwards ended with Austin having a strong shot deflected away for a fruitless corner.

Battling Hereford then had to call on former Harriers goalkeeper Brandon Hall to dive to his left to save a long range effort from Milan Butterfield.

The Bulls, however, pulled a goal back on 58 minutes when Styche rammed the ball home from close range following a cross from Jordan Nicholson.

Kidderminster, who lock horns with Hereford again New Year’s Day at Edgar Street, wrapped up the scoring on 69 minutes when Hemmings firmly headed home a pin-point cross from Correy Davidson.

On 83 minutes Harriers had Johnson sent off for a second bookable offence.

Kidderminster: Mannion; Austin, Moyo, R. Williams, Johnson, Davidson (Peniket, 80); Butterfield, Shenton (Higginson, 87), Prosser; Hemmings; Freemantle (E Williams, 67). Subs not used: Palmer, Scott.

Hereford: Hall; Hodgkiss, Cullinane-Liburd, Bodenham, Greenslade, Allen (Bray, 54), Dawson, Thomas, Vincenti (Sodeinde, 75); Thomas, Styche (Mooney, 87). Subs not used: Pope, O’Sullivan.

Referee: Andy Sykes (Lancs).

Attendance: 2,117 (517 away fans).