Hinckley 0
Harriers 2

GOALS for Lee Vaughan and Nick Wright separated the sides in a low-key encounter at the Greene King Stadium as Harriers made it four pre-season wins in a row on Tuesday night.

The Aggborough outfit looked comfortable throughout at Hinckley but could not match the goal-scoring feats of the three previous games.

This was still an encouraging pre-season display with the start of the Blue Square Bet Premier less than a fortnight away.

Harriers fielded a side which saw Luke Medley handed a rare start in a side and also featured Dave Hankin on the right.

Striker Steve Guinan missed the match as he recovered from a nasty cuty on his head sustained in Friday's win over Wolverhampton Wanderers XI.

Home side Hinckley put out a side containing former Harrier Lloyd Kerry, who had a brief loan spell at the club from Chesterfield, and ex-Bromsgrove Rovers, Evesham and Redditch United hitman Jermaine Clarke.

But it was the visitors who made the early breakthrough when Vaughan fired home with a right-footed shot after being set up by Hankins' cross.

Harriers looked in control throughout but did not show the verve they had in their last three games.

Medley, who looked off the pace in the first half, shot into the side netting after a jinking run down the left. He also fired wide in the 21st minute from 10-yards out.

Marc Williams saw an effort fly over the bar but Harriers' best chance to increase their lead came in the 31st minute, when Vaughan raced onto Hankins' pass, cut in from the right and drove in a thundering low effort, which keeper Dan Haystead parried. With James Vincent ready to pounce, Hinckley skipper Rod Oddy cleared the danger.

Michael Briscoe, keeper Dean Lyness and Nick Wright replaced Luke Jones, Danny Lewis and Hankin at the start of the second half for Harriers.

Medley raced onto Scott Phelan's pass down the right but his whipped in cross was a fraction too long for his teammates.

Vincent also drove towards the box but his shot was straight at Haystead in goal.

Substitute Callum Gittings had a chance to increase Harriers' lead but he directed his effort across the face of goal as the away side continued to dominate.

However, there was little in terms of chances for either set of fans to enjoy, with neither side showing any cutting edge.

Gittings slammed a firm effort at Haystead after good work by Matt to out muscle Ben Everton in the 71st minute.

Substitute Rob Thompson-Brown looked very lively and he saw a goal ruled out for offside late on.

But Harriers went 2-0 up in the 82nd minute. Thompson-Brown's tenacity had breached the home defence and when the ball fell to Wright 20-yards out, he lashed a shot into the back of the net.

Thompson-Brown almost made it 3-0 but he wasted a good chance when he shot over the bar.

Harriers will go into their final pre-season game at Rugby on Saturday in good heart.

The only injury scare came when midfielder Vincent picked up a knock after a typical driving run into the box but shook off the problem to continue.

Jack Creswell also did not take any part after pulling something while warming up.

Harriers: Lewis (Lyness, 46); Vaughan; Mike Williams (Demetriou, 67); Jones (Briscoe, 46); Phelan (Gittings, 55); Sharpe (Marshall, 67); Hankin (Wright, 46); Vincent; Storer; Marc Williams (Thompson-Brown, 55); Medley.

Unused sub: Creswell.

Hinckley: Haystead; Oddy; Dudley; Kerry; Lister; Everton; Byrne; Holt; Clarke (Spargo, 55); Kolodynski (McAughtrie); Newton (Jephcote, 27) Unused subs: Hodgson.

Referee: Robert Earl