Harriers 4, FC United 0

RUTHLESS Harriers put ten-man FC United of Manchester to the sword to take another step towards a National League play-off place.

Goals from Ryan Croasdale, Joe Ironside, sub George Waring and Elton Ngwatala saw the hosts find their killer instinct in the second half at Aggborough.

They recovered from a frustrating first half and were also helped after Zac Corbett's red card mid-way into the second period.

Harriers had made four changes for the clash as James McQuilkin, Ngwatala, Ironside and Lee Vaughan all returned.

Andre Brown was moved to the bench while the hosts had to do without the suspended Fraser Horsfall and injured duo Dan Bradley and Liam Truslove.

The first chance of the evening fell to United player/manager Tom Greaves who forced home keeper Brandon Hall into a low save after McQuilkin's misplaced pass had set the visitors away after just three minutes.

Harriers also carried a threat of their own early on, especially through the pace of Mani Sonupe down the right flank.

His burst on eight minutes won a corner that Jimmy O'Connor nearly capitalised on. He met McQuilkin's low out-swinger but could only sweep the ball wide of the far post from a difficult angle.

Sonupe looked the most likely for the Reds due to his willingness to run in behind a high United backline.

He latched onto a well-placed Declan Weeks through ball on 17 minutes but was thwarted by the outrushing Lloyd Allinson.

Harriers were starting to enjoy more of the ball as McQuilkin saw a shot blocked on 25 minutes before the same player then fired wide moments later.

But once more John Eustace's men remained largely frustrated as they half wore on without them finding a way through.

For all their possession they struggled to work Allinson as their play broke down and they looked short of ideas in the final third.

The start of the second half followed a similar pattern. Weeks did begin to find his range to get Harriers moving forward but United dug in.

Ironside passed up a good opening on 53 minutes as Allinson smothered after Ngwatala had put him through.

The Frenchman was suddenly finding more space and it was his ball from the left that finally unlocked the visitors just a minute later.

Skipper Ryan Croasdale was on hand at the far post to provide the finish as Harriers edged ahead.

Vaughan's drilled effort was then tipped over by Allinson as the Reds quickly went looking for a second.

They got it on the hour mark as Joe Ironside netted his 16th of the season from Sonupe's low cross after Weeks had freed him down the right.

It got worse for United just before the 70th minute when Zac Corbett saw red after elbowing McQuilkin following a tangle as the ball ran out near the half way line.

The visitors did have the ball in the net as the game entered the final 15 minutes but were denied by the linesman's flag.

Greaves followed up Connor McCarthy's effort from range but his celebration was quickly cut short.

Instead Harriers showed their ruthless side against the ten men to put the game to bed.

First sub Waring, who had only been on the field for six minutes, marked his debut with a fine header from Vaughan's cross on 77 minutes. Ngwatala then got in on the act when turning the ball home three minutes later.

Harriers couldn't add to their tally in the closing stages but had already displayed a cutting edge they hope will carry them further into the play-off picture in the coming weeks.

They will now look to follow that up when Southport visit this Saturday.

Harriers: Hall, Vaughan, Austin, Croasdale (c), Pearson, O'Connor, Weeks (Wright 83), McQuilkin (Waring 71), Ironside, Ngwatala, Sonupe (Taylor 76).

Unused subs: Brown, Palmer.

FC United: Allinson, Senior, Wisdom, Fagbola, Hughes, Corbett, Jones (Crawford 63), Kay (c), Greaves (Glynn 75), Irwin (Palmer 80), McCarthy.

Unused subs: Lindfield, Baird.

Att: 1,375 (137).