A WELL-TAKEN Stewart Hadley strike was enough to secure victory for Kidderminster Harriers in their first pre-season friendly against league opposition.

Tuesday's 1-0 success against Bristol City looks to have left manager Jan Molby with a few welcome selection dilemmas ahead of the coming season, not least in midfield.

Andy Ducros, trialist Darren Middleton, new signing Mark Blake and substitute Daire Doyle all shone in an impressive workout ahead of further matches against West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City.

The pivotal moment of the match arrived in the 24th minute when Hadley was on hand to score with a diving header past keeper Steve Phillips from eight yards after a sweeping move down the right involving right-back Parfait Medou-Otye and Ducros.

Harriers should have been ahead long before the goal, with great chances for Scott Stamps and Ducros going begging in the second and 12th minutes.

Molby's men continued to press after taking the lead, with surging runs from Middleton and Ducros causing the visitors defence endless problems.

However, City spurned a glorious chance to equalise seconds before the interval when their prolific striker Tony Thorpe screwed an effort wide from 12 yards after a mistake from the otherwise impressive trialist Sall Abdou, who played with assurance at the heart of the home defence.

Moments earlier Thorpe had an effort ruled out for offside in what looked a harsh decision.

The second half was a quieter affair, disrupted by the inevitable substitutions, particularly from the visitors.

Phillips made a great save from a Tony Bird header and Doyle curled a 20-yard free kick just wide for Harriers.

The Second Division side came closest to goal right at the death when substitute Tommy Doherty shot wide from six yards.

Harriers: Brock, 7, Medou-Otye, 7, Joy, 6, Blake, 7, (Doyle, 57mins, 8), Hinton, 7, Abdou, 7, Middleton, 7, Williams, 6, Hadley, 7, Ducros, 8, (Bird, 57mins, 6), Stamps, 7.

Subs not used: Murphy, Clarkson, Smith, Webb, Lewis.

Bristol City: Phillips, Amankwaah (Jordan 90) , Clist (Doherty 45), Hulbert (Bell 45), Millen (Hill 45), Carey (Lever 45), Murray (Burnell 45), Brown (Coles 75), Matthews (Beadle 45), Thorpe (Goodridge), Tinnion (Burns).

Attendance: 1,144.