On a mild but wet day at Kidderminster there was a strong Hereford following of 545 in a crowd of 3,421. With Hereford bottom of the form table Josh Gowling rang the changes. Visser came back in goal with Eve out of the squad.
With Latty-Fairweather leaving the club Levi Andoh returned for a second spell at right back. Captain Haines paired with Pendley back in the side. Amadi-Holloway moving up the pitch to play as a striker and Evans kept his place at left back.
Ryan Lloyd returned from injury in midfield with Thompson-Sommers, Hanson sitting on the bench. Holmes joined him with Pinchard coming in on the left, Rus in the middle and McLean on the right behind Aaron. Barnett resting on the bench with Storey and Thompson completing the substitutes.
Hereford started much more sharply than on Boxing Day. They showed more aggression in the first fifteen minutes than they had in the whole of the previous match. Yet penetration remained a problem. Hereford failed to get in behind for all their endeavours. A series of challenges by Andoh, McLean and Pendley saw the ball won and lost on the right. At one stage the ball appeared to go over the touch line. Perhaps the Assistant Referee interpreted like the Japanese World Cup goal that there was an arc of the ball above the white paint. Hereford were looking to break out Owen-Evans won the last challenge and the ball broke free to left winger Bearne.
He needed no second invitation to go forward look up and fire a low cross to Morgan-Smith. The striker made the classic run to the front post and his stabbed finish was too sharp for Visser to do anything as Harriers took the lead.
Hereford were better but could not get strikes in on goal. A Leesley corner was cleared by Haines. Leesley picked it up and fired a low cross shot from the right. Dino dived low and his fingertips flicked the ball on to the post to save a goal.
At half time Hereford had challenged better. Yet Kidderminster’s pressing was more organised and they had retained the same control they had at Edgar Street. Hereford’s best threat had been Haines long throws. Luke had a good game recapturing some of last season’s form.
Storey came on for McLean at half time it could just as easily have been Pinchard. Harry massively over hitting one corner.
Miles made all the difference. Alongside Amadi-Holloway the Bulls had a dynamic duo. Miles was fed through the inside right channel and shot straight at Palmer when he could have pulled the ball for Rus who had done well to catch up speedster Storey. Then Miles got down the left and pulled his cross back too far but the Harriers defence was being turned and the Bulls looked lively.
Leesley picked up a knock and was substituted with Hemmings. Leesley took some time to leave the park as Harriers wasted time. Leesley had a knock and exchanged banter with Bulls fans about the delays as he hobbled round to the dressing room.
Again the Bulls fed Storey. Down the left he whipped in a classic cross.
Thompson-Sommers looked all set to strike but he was shoulder to shoulder with a defender who did enough to put KTS off his stride.
The ball ran behind to Andoh. Surprised at the ball appearing he adjusted and skewed the ball into the ground as Odegaard did against Brighton. The ball taking an awkward bounce and looping up and in just inside the post giving Palmer no chance. An odd goal but if you put it on target enough times things happen.
The game now was a considered Kiddy against a more direct Bulls. Next Storey flicked on to Rus who was taken out by last man Pearce who was booked. There were covering defenders. Yet The Chief took Marco high on the thigh and the challenge was worse than the one McLean received a red card for at Telford. Rus hit the free kick low into the wall.
Amadi-Holloway had lead the line well winning several headers and he made way for Barnett. Lloyd had played a similar role to Hanson but had been more progressive. Returning from injury Ryan was replaced by Jethro. Storey again breaking forward shot over the bar. The carpet men replaced scorer Morgan-Smith with Hemmings. Storey again the danger man passed to Andoh on the overlap and Brown tactically fouled Levi at the price of a yellow card.
Surprisingly Kidderminster waited until the last ten minutes to bring on Lissimore who had impressed at Edgar Street. The midfielder replacing Foulkes. There was a melee after Andoh was fouled and someone was booked but it was unclear who.
This was an improved performance but the aggression at the start of the match should be standard. The Bulls still struggled to create chances. Pressing was uncoordinated and Kidderminster were content to let the ball be worked back to Visser or Pendley.
Storey secured the point. This was his most impressive 45 minutes this season. His pace and Amadi-Holloway’s power looked a formidable combination. Rus showed many flashes but too often he is going solo and seeing things before team mates. This stopped the run of defeats and showed that two up front can produce results.