Rugby 2
Harriers 4

HARRIERS ended their pre-season programme with a fifth consecutive win but were given a stern examination by determined Southern League side Rugby Town at Butlins Road on Saturday.

A brace for home hitman Seb Hamilton gave Harriers a scare but strikes by Marc Williams, Callum Gittings, Nick Wright and Steve Guinan ensured Steve Burr's side completed their friendly games in some style.

It means manager Steve Burr has plenty of food for thought ahead of next week's Blue Square Bet Premier opener at home to Gateshead next Saturday.

Harriers started confidently against a Rugby side determined to ruffle the Conference Premier side's feathers.

The away team opened the scoring in the 10th minute, when Marc Williams swivelled neatly and finished well, after Kyle Storer had rifled a shot into a crowded box.

Rugby hit back well and the impressive JJ Cole played in Seb Hamilton, who saw his shot creep past an outstretched Danny Lewis at the far post.

Harriers almost took the lead again on the half hour mark but former Tamworth keeper Louis Connor dived to his right to claw away Tom Marshall's far post header.

Hamilton then fired the Southern League side ahead in the 34th minute, racing onto another Cole pass to slip the ball beyond Lewis, who perhaps could have done more to prevent the goal.

The away side responded three minutes later, when Wright finally made it 2-2 after his first two shots had been blocked.

The Aggborough outfit survived a scare on the stroke of half-time, when Cole's shot rattled the woodwork and Richard Wesley fired wide of an open goal.

Harriers made a host of changes at the start of the second half but substitute Gittings fired the away side ahead in the 51st minute with a rising effort from the edge of the box which flew into the top corner.

The game became disrupted as Burr brought on the rest of his substitutes, with Luke Medley looking sharp and Gittings pulling the strings.

Tyrone Fagan could have levelled the scores for Rugby but his effort hit the bar.

Dave Hankin went close with another effort as much-changed Harriers began to settle again.

Medley had a great chance to increase the lead when he was played in by Guinan but the forward shot over the bar with just keeper Connor to beat.

The fleet-footed Rob Thompson-Brown also fired over after a jinking run into the box.

Medley looked a threat down the right wing and he stung Connor's palms with a fizzing effort.

The Harriers striker looked determined to make an impact with the season starting next week and a powerful run down the left also caused panic in Rugby's box.

Gittings then saw a long range effort fly over the bar but Guinan's fine finish in the 88th minute made sure of the win.

Harriers: Lewis (Lyness, 46); Vaughan (Sharpe, 46); Mike Williams (Demetriou, 57); Jones; Marshall (Briscoe, 61); Phelan (Gittings, 46); Vincent (Thompson-Brown, 57); Wright (Hankin, 46); Storer (Byrne, 57); Matt (Guinan, 46); Marc Williams (Medley, 57).

Rugby: Connor; Reece (Hall, 88); Moran; Preston; Gourlay; Gundelach (Evans, 55); Steane; JJ Cole (Wilson, 75); Fagan (Haycock, 62); Hamilton (Khan, 81); Wesley.

Unused substitutes:Da Costa.

Attendance: 232