Harriers 2
Shrewsbury 1

HARRIERS came through their sternest test of pre-season yet as goals in each half sank League Two rivals Shrewsbury Town in a competitive derby on Tuesday night.

Manager Steve Burr's will have been given plenty of food for thought by his squad as once his players impressed against a very strong Shrews line-up.

Lee Vaughan had fired Harriers ahead from the penalty spot in a first half where the home side looked comfortable and had chances to increase their lead.

The away side hit back in the second and looked boosted by a host of changes. They levelled the scores through flying winger Lionel Ainsworth and pushed for a winner but substitute Jamille Matt's thumping finish made it two pre-season wins in a row for the first time this summer.

Both teams were looking keen to go forward and Vaughan had to make a timely challenge to deny James Collins as he tried to get onto Lionel Ainsworth's cross.

Captain Mike Williams had Harriers' first chance in the 12th minute, heading across goal at the far post from a pin-point Kyle Storer cross.

Home keeper Danny Lewis almost allowed striker Terry Gornell a sight of goal when he slipped as the hitman advanced but he recovered well to put off the forward, who rolled the ball wide.

With both sides looking for goals the game became stretched but it was Harriers who carried the extra threat.

Lively winger Davie Hankin's low raking cross from the right flew tantalisingly across the face of goal.

Steve Guinan saw an effort just off target, while James Vincent's lung-busting run to support Marc Williams did not end in a goal when shot-stopper Chris Neal made a smart stop.

But Harriers made the breakthrough in the 35th minute from the penalty spot.Hankin was fouled by Shrewsbury trialist Pete Bore and Vaughan slammed the spot-kick into the top left corner in emphatic fashion.

Shrewsbury midfielder Steve Leslie fired a shot straight at Lewis in the 43rd minute as Harriers took the lead into half-time.

Shrewsbury nearly levelled the scores in the first minute of the second half, when the pacey Ainsworth raced into the box but Lewis did well to deny him.

Marc Williams saw a powerful long range effort blocked by Ian Sharps but the game became disrupted by substitutions near the hour mark. Trialist Paul Bottimer also came on to try his luck for the hosts.

Shrewsbury made a host of changes in the 63rd minute, which included former Harrier Reuben Hazell, while ex-Woking forward Marvin Morgan drew a good save from Lewis in the 66th.

The changes reinvigorated the away side and Ainsworth grabbed a deserved goal when he beat Lewis with a first-time effort.

Harriers' shot-stopper was then called into action again, diving to his right to claw away Mark Wright's effort.

Shrewsbury looked on top but substitute Jamille Matt grabbed his second goal of pre-season in the 86th minute, slamming the ball beyond Chris Neal after good work by Luke Medley and Jack Byrne.

Harriers: Lewis; Vaughan (Cresswell, 57); Mike Williams (Demetriou, 70); Jones (Sharpe, 46); Marshall (Briscoe, 70); Hankin (Matt, 46); Storer (Byrne, 57); Phelan (Medley, 74); Vincent; Guinan (Bottimer, 46); Marc Williams (Thompson-Brown, 57).

Unused substitutes: Gittings.

Shrewsbury: Neal; Regan; Cansdell-Sherriff (Grandison, 63); McAllister; Sharps (Hazell, 63); Goldson (Jacobson, 63); Ainsworth; Leslie (Taylor, 63); Collins (Wroe); Gornell (Morgan, 63; Wright.

Unused substitutes: Smith; Male; Woods.

Attendance: 753