Report: Kidderminster 2 - Hereford 1

A fatigued Hereford put in a below-par performance and were beaten 2-1 by full-time side Kidderminster Harriers this afternoon at Aggborough.

The hosts played 50 minutes of the game with ten men after Ryan Johnson was dismissed for an elbow on Tom Owen-Evans, but they were able to control large parts of the game. James Roberts opened the scoring after home keeper Brandon Hall handled a back-pass, scoring from Tom Owen-Evans indirect free kick. Harriers responded immediately through Ashley Chambers, with Declan Weeks firing a superb 30-yard shot past Matt Yates a minute into the second half.

The hosts made three changes to the side that started in the game at Edgar Street just under a week ago. Captain Jimmy O'Connor and Russ Penn returned to midfield, with George Waring a different player for the Bulls' defence to work with.

For Hereford, they made just the one change since their last game, as Calvin Dinsley returned in midfield at the expense of Tommy O'Sullivan who dropped to the bench.

The game started with a lot of tempo with Harriers keen to close Hereford down when in possession, and it was the hosts the went closest to taking the lead within the opening exchanges. Keiran Thomas did well to prevent the ball going out for a throw near the corner flag, but he lost possession to Sam Austin. Austin wasted no time in delivering a low cross into the box, but somehow George Waring was unable to reach it as the ball flashed across the face of goal.

The first shot on target of the afternoon came from Harriers, with a back-pass from Keiran Thomas falling for the out of position Matt Yates. As the Bulls' stopper cleared the ball upfield, it was intercepted by Declan Weeks whose half-volley was held by the backpedaling Yates.

A first for Hereford since reforming, they were awarded an indirect free kick within the area in the 18th minute. With the Bulls surging forward, Tom Owen-Evans, James Roberts and Mike Symons all tried to get shots away within the area, but it was ultimately Kiddy left-back Lee Vaughan who forced his own keeper into making a save, meaning an indirect free kick for Hereford from 10-yards.Tom Owen-Evans took the free kick short to James Roberts who lashed the ball home into the top right hand corner of the net.

But Hereford's lead was barely intact for 60 seconds as Harriers pulled a goal back. A quick break down the left saw Yates get his fingertips to the ball, but it still found Ashley Chambers who found the back of the net.

More chances for Kidderminster could've seen them take the lead with Hereford really under the cosh. With Thomas conceding a free kick just outside the area, Declan Weeks played the ball low towards to Ashley Chambers whose low drive forces Yates into a save.

In the 31st minute another free kick for the Reds saw Weeks' powerful cross beat the wall and a stunned Yates was only able to push it back into the area, and somehow Kane Richards couldn't fire home with the goal gaping as his shot went wide.

In an action-packed first half at Aggborough, Kidderminster were reduced to ten-men seven minutes from half time as Ryan Johnson was shown a straight red card for an elbow on Tom Owen-Evans as he made progress down the right.

After the sending off, Harriers' threat in front of goal dwindled and Hereford made it to the half time break level with their hosts. On a number of occasions throughout the first half Hereford's recent tactic of long-ball to Symons wasn't effective, with his hamstring strain probably playing a part.

Half time: Kidderminster Harriers 1 - Hereford 1

Given the time to regroup at half time, Hereford fans would've been optimistic that their side would've come out in the second half looking to take advantage of having an extra man.

But the Bulls got the second half off to the worst possible start as the conceded within the opening minute. An initial cross was headed clear, but Declan Weeks was well-positioned to hit the ball on the half-volley, leaving Yates with no chance of stopping his powerful shot from 30-yards in front of the home fans.

Marc Richards shuffled the pack just before the hour mark as he introduced Eliot Richards and Tommy O'Sullivan to try and shore up midfield, but it was still Kiddy who were in control. Declan Weeks, who impressed in last week's derby, played a neat through-ball to Lee Vaughan who's shot was tipped wide by Yates at full-stretch.

A handball on the left flank in the 67th minute from Lee Vaughan set Hereford up with a great opportunity to grab an equaliser, but it wasn't to be. First
Eliot Richards' delivery was deflected wide, before former-Harrier Josh Gowling blazed a shot well over the bar from the resulting corner.

Hereford started to throw everything forward as they tried to grab a goal to earn a share of the spoils, but it was a case of too little too late from a tired Bulls side.
The closest they came to pulling themselves back level was from an Eliot Richards free kick, but Jordan Cullinane-Liburd glanced his header agonisingly wide of the post in front of the 911 Hereford fans.

Full time: Kidderminster Harriers 2 - Hereford 1
Attendance: 2,745 (911 away)

Hereford: Yates, Thomas, Greenslade🔶, Dinsley (Richards - 57'), Cullinane-Liburd (c), Gowling, Lloyd (Wharton - 72'), Owen-Evans, Finn (O'Sullivan - 57'), Roberts, Symons.

Subs not used: H. Smith, Horsell.

Kidderminster Harriers: Hall, Vaughan🔶, Austin, O'Connor (c), Horsfall, Johnson🔴, Weeks, Penn, Waring, Chambers (Phillips - 87'), Richards.

Subs not used: Taylor, Butterfield, Baxendale, White.