Kidderminster Harriers 0 Blyth Spartans 1 - Report

Second-from-bottom Blyth sealed victory with a spectacular second half goal from Lewis Hawkins.

Harriers have now failed to keep a clean sheet since they won 2-0 at home against Farsley Celtic on October 22.

Kidderminster, who drew 1-1 at Blyth in early September, were forced to make a number changes from the side which lost 2-1 against Hereford FC at Edgar Street on New Year’s Day.

With defenders Rhys Williams and Ryan Johnson suspended, they paraded 34 year old Keith Lowe who has returned to the club for a third spell on a contract until the end of the season.

Harry Higginson was also drafted into the Aggborough rear-guard while Ed Williams and Ethan Freemantle returned to the starting line-up.

Ashley Chambers, on the casualty list recently, was on the substitutes’ bench as were Richard Peniket and Correy Davidson who were believed to be nursing slight knocks.

Davidson, Chambers and Peniket, however, came on during the second half.

The visitors made a decent start and within a couple of minutes Harriers’ goalkeeper Will Mannion was called on to stick out a leg to keep out a shot from Callum Roberts. Lewis Hawkins then curled a shot wide from the edge of the area.

Kidderminster responded with speedy raid which led to skipper Cliff Moyo having a dipping shot that nearly dropped under the bar before Ollie Shenton pulled the trigger on a powerful half volley which fizzed a yard wide of the target.

Shortly before the half hour mark Freemantle made a determined run and shook off a number of tackles before getting in a shot which was blocked in front of goal.

Within a couple of minutes Michael Sweet went near for the visitors with a well struck volley.

At the other end an Ashley Hemmings corner found Milan Butterfield at the far post but his downward header hit goalkeeper Zach Hemming before the loose ball was finally cleared.

Just before the interval Hemmings sent over a menacing cross which reached Freemantle but his flick header flew over the bar.

Blyth began the second half with a fierce drive by Hawkins which flew just inches over the bar.

But they were bang on target in the 55th minute when Hawkins scored with a terrific 25 yard pile-driver which Mannion had no chance of saving.

Harriers set about trying to repair the damage and Higginson had a free header got over the bar following a corner Alex Prosser corner.

Hemming came to the Spartans rescue on 71 minutes when he did well to dive to his right and push away an effort from Hemmings.

But despite their efforts Harriers were unable to find an equaliser with Hemming doing well to save a Hemmings free kick in stoppage time.

Kidderminster: Mannion; E. Williams (Davidson, 52), Moyo, Lowe, Higginson, Austin; Butterfield, Shenton (Peniket, 80), Prosser, Hemmings; Freemantle (Chambers, 67). Subs not used: Palmer, Digie.

Blyth: Hemming; Evans, Sanders, Thackray, Wilson; Hunter, Mullen (Waddington, 76), Hawkins, Dale; Sweet (Wrightson, 65, McKeown, 90), Roberts. Subs not used: Devitt, Hutchinson.

Referee: Simeon Lucas (Blackburn).

Attendance: 1,532 (35 away fans).