Harriers 2, York City 1

HARRIERS put in a solid display at Aggborough to halt a slide which had seen the side lose three National League North games for the first time.

Dan Bradley’s long-awaited brace – his first since his £75,000 move to Kidderminster – were enough to claim all three points for the home side against their promotion rivals.

But it was a nervy end for the Reds, who were in control for most of the game, as sloppy defending let York in for a late consolation.

In an end-to-end first half Harriers had the bulk of the good chances, with Emmanuel Sonupe going close within the first 10 minutes, but he dragged his shot wide.

A few minutes later Declan Weeks fired a shot from about 25 yards out which York keeper Adam Bartlett was able to tip onto the post.

James McQuilkin was the next Harriers midfielder to have a go at goal. Good work down the right hand side by Bradley saw him cut inside the box before playing it out to his teammate who fired the ball over from near the 18 yard line.

Harriers thought they had the breakthrough on 38 minutes when Bradley raced into box before firing a shot across goal. His effort was deflected into the back of the net by captain Ryan Croasdale but the Kidderminster midfielder was flagged for offside.

The second half started at a much slower tempo but it was still Harriers who had the best of the play, and the home side finally claimed a well-deserved lead on 56 minutes.

The ball was played out to Lee Vaughan on the right wing who whipped a cross to the far post and it was headed in by Bradley for his first goal for Harriers.

York could have got back into the game within 10 minutes when Parkin was put through on goal after sloppy play at the back by Kidderminster, but he dragged his shot wide – a let off for the Harriers.

It was relief for the home side when they doubled their lead with 15 minutes to go. Sonupe picked the ball up on the break getting it out to the right wing. He passed it inside to Weeks who found Bradley in acres of space at the far post who lifted his shot over the keeper.

The play became end-to-end once again towards the end of the match, and York were able to claim a goal back when sloppy Harriers defending let in Connor Brown who fired past Brandon Hall.

But despite the late goal, Harriers were able to hold on for a valuable win.

Harriers: Hall, Vaughan, Taylor, Croasdale (c), Horsfall, Pearson, Weeks, McQuilkin, Ironside (Waring 90), Bradley, Sonupé (Brown 79).

Unused subs: Austin, Smith, Flatt.

York: Bartlett, Parslow, Ferguson, Bencherif, Newton (c), Brown, Pattison, Heslop (Moke 45), Parkin, Almond (Smith 50), Connolly (Kempster 62).

Unused subs: Burn, Simpson.

Att: 1,244 (91).