Kidderminster Harriers 2 Blyth 0 - Report and pictures

Ashley Hemmings and Max Taylor both hit the target to seal three well deserved points.

It is the first time since September 2018 that high-riding Harriers have won three league matches in a row.

Aggborough boss Russ Penn named an unchanged side from that which clinched a 2-0 victory at Chorley the previous Saturday.

They were again without striker Amari Morgan-Smith who was serving the second of a two-match ban for being sent off in Kidderminster’s previous home game which ended in a 2-1 defeat against Chester.

Harriers, playing in their first home Saturday league fixture since February, had cause for concern after a couple of minutes when Michael Cain set up the opportunity for Connor Thompson to fire in a shot which was saved by goalkeeper Luke Simpson at the expense of an unproductive corner.

Blyth, who lined up against Penn’s men without an away league victory since winning 1-0 at Aggborough in January, had to be on their guard shortly afterwards when a promising build-up led to Sam Austin having a long range shot parried away by goalkeeper Bradley Young, who then pulled off an excellent point blank save to deny Hemmings.

Harriers, however, broke the deadlock on 12 minutes when a dazzling run through the visitors’ defence by Omari Sterling resulted in Hemmings having enough time and space to fire into the net from close range.

They continued to look lively moving forward and Austin tried his luck with a shot from distance which was safely gathered by well positioned Young.

Blyth struggled find a clear-cut way the through the solid home defence and Cain chose to unleash a curling shot from some 30 yards, but his effort drifted well wide of the target.

The first half drew to a close with front-runner Ethan Freemantle racing towards the Spartans goal before seeing his powerful drive whiz past the post.

Harriers soon set about trying to increase their lead in the second period and it was not long before Hemmings got in an angled shot which was gathered without any difficulty by Young.

They reaped their rewards on 57 minutes, however, when a Sterling cross was pushed home at the back post by Taylor.

Shortly afterwards Hemmings had a ‘goal’ disallowed for off-side before Taylor went close with a powerful header which just over the bar.

Blyth, without a league win so far this season, pushed forwards on 84 minutes, but Alex Sakellaropoulos’ firm header went straight into Simpson’s waiting arms.

Kris Thackray was then desperately unlucky with a header which rebounded off the bar before Matthew Elsdon slid the rebound wide.

Kidderminster: Simpson; Penny, Taylor, Lowe, Richards; Austin, Montrose, Prosser, Hemmings (Maxwell, 80); Sterling (Arthur, 88), Freemantle (Kellerman, 57). Subs not used: Palmer, Moyo.

Blyth: Young; Sakellaropoulos, Cunningham, Cain, Thackray; Thompson, Elsdon, Heslop, Guy (Katsmagkas, 72); Gbolahan (McKeown, 72), Griffiths (Russell, 65). Sub not used: Charlton, Pearson.

Referee: David McNamara.