HARRIERS 0, WALSALL 2

GARY Birch showed why Ian Britton rates him so highly by stealing the show on a stage set for former England international Paul Merson.

Birch, a loan target of Harriers, replaced Jorge Leitao at half-time and buried two second-half goals to decide last Wednesday's pre-season friendly.

Merson played 55 minutes and showed touches of his class as Britton's men generally struggled to break down their Division One visitors.

Harriers keeper Stuart Brock was forced into two good saves to deny Merson in the first quarter-of-an-hour.

Matt Lewis and Dean Bennett were not far off with long-range efforts but Kyle Lightbourne failed to impress against his former club and was replaced at half-time.

Brock denied Australian midfielder Steve Corica at the start of the second period before Birch's first on 54 minutes, firing home after being released through the defence by Corica.

Karl Hawley nearly extended the lead but Bo Henriksen later wasted a good chance to equalise when he fired straight at Aaron Kerr after a through-ball from fellow sub Graham Ward.

Birch showed him the way to goal with a similar strike to his first goal six minutes from the end with Darren Bazeley providing the assist.

The forward went on to score the winner in a 2-1 success over Aston Villa on Saturday.

HARRIERS: Brock; Hinton, Willis, Stamps (Ayres 71); Coleman (Heath 79), Bennett, D Williams, (Parrish 71), Flynn, Shilton; Lightbourne (Henriksen 46), Lewis (Ward 71). Sub not used: Danby.

WALSALL: Walker (Kerr 76); Bazeley, Emblen, Roper; Wright (Hawley 79), Lawrence (Wrack 49), Merson (Matias 56), Samways (Aranalde 56), Oakes (Taylor 88); Corica (Fryatt 85), Leitao (Birch 46). Subs not used: Bishop, Caines.

ATTENDANCE: 1,742.