Harriers 5, Blyth Spartans 4

HARRIERS sealed three points in a game which was one of the most topsy-turvy in recent Aggborough history.

The home side led three times and Blyth twice throughout a blockbuster 90 minutes of football but it could have been all so different if it wasn’t for poor defending from both sides.

Harriers made two changed from team which beat Deeping Rangers 4-2 in the cup last weekend – skipper Ryan Croasdale came in for Declan Weeks and James McQuilkin replaced Sam Austin with both players dropping to the bench.

Kidderminster had the perfect start to the game when Andre Brown slotted home his fourth in four games from inside the area after just three minutes.

Leaning back, the Kiddy forward managed to get his get his foot onto Joe Ironside’s pass to swipe the shot past Jameson.

Harriers could have made it 2-0 just before a quarter of an hour when Ironside deflected a shot off the palms of Peter Jameson, but the Blyth keeper managed to stretch out to stop the ball from trickling over the line.

A few minutes later, a mix up in the Harriers defence let in Dale Hopson who was able to get the wrong side of Fraser Horsfall and James Pearson – playing his home debut for the side – and go one-on-one with Brandon Hall.

Kidderminster’s shot-stopper made himself big but could not avoid Hopson taking the ball around him to slot it into an empty net.

Within minutes of possibly being two goals to the good, Harriers found themselves behind when David McTiernan fired a shot past Hall from the centre of the box after more poor defending from the home side.

After stopping an initial shot, the ball ballooned into the air, and after a game of head tennis, the Harriers back line could only head the ball straight to McTiernan who made no doubt with a powerful finish.

In what was a brilliant first half an hour if you like goals and terrible defending, Kiddy were level when the home side were awarded a corner.

A beautiful cross from James McQuilkin, who was back in the side after injury, picked out Pearson unmarked at the edge of the box who then looped a header inside the far post and out of the reach of the Blyth defence.

Pearson was running into the box, but managed to slip his marker and headed back outside the area when he was found well by the quick thinking McQuilkin.

But straight from the kick-off Kidderminsetr found themselves behind once again.

McTiernan found himself with the ball inside the box and fired another unstoppable shot past Hall.

It could have been worse for Harriers going in to half time, but Hall saved well to stop McTiernan getting his hat-trick when he tipped his drive around the far post.

The second half started like the first with Harriers attacking well but could not capitalise after poor crosses from Tyrone Williams and Emmanuel Sonupe down the right hand side.

But a foul on Sonupe gave Harriers a penalty on 56 minutes, and the winger stepped up to the spot himself and made no doubt with his shot, firing Kidderminster back level.

The goals didn’t stop there and with just 58 minutes on the clock Harriers were deservedly ahead.

After having most of the play in the second half, a corner from the right hand side was whipped in by Sonupe and there was Pearson again, but rather than looping an effort like he had in the first time, this time he bulleted a header past Jameson from eight yards out.

The home side could have extended their lead when Sonupe fed substitute Dan Bradley with a great pass through the Blyth back line but the £75,000 man could only hit his shot straight at Jameson with just the keeper to beat.

With 76 minutes on the clock Bradley was put through one-on-one once again and just like his first chance he could not beat the keeper who did well to smother the ball.

Harriers were now dominant and extended their advantage just two minutes later when a cross from the left was met by the head of Williams on the edge of the box.

Williams’s attempt was then lifted over the keeper and in off the bar via the head of Andre Wright.

Despite letting three goals past him, Hall was keeping Blyth at bay and made a great instinctive save with six minutes left after Danny Maguire dribbled into the box under no pressure from Harriers’ defence.

Hopson was next on the score sheet after drilling a shot from outside of the area past Hall to reduce the visitors’ deficit.

After more poor defending from Harriers, a cross from the left was only cleared away as far as Hopson whose shot was just out of reach for Hall.

A nerve-wracking ending to the game was in store for Harriers fans as Blyth pushed hard for an equaliser, but the home side somehow managed to hang on for all three points.

Harriers: Hall, Williams, Taylor, Croasdale (c), Horsfall, Pearson, Sonupe, McQuilkin (Bradley 45), Ironside, Ngwatala, Brown (Wright 67).

Unused subs: Austin, Weeks, Digie.

Blyth Spartans: Jameson, Cartwright, Liddle, Reid, Buddle, Hutchinson, Wrightson, McTiernan, Maguire, Hopson (Lazzari 87), Dale (c).

Unused subs: Horner, Murray, Macdonald.

Att: 1,524 (71)