Harriers 2, Bradford Park Avenue 1 (AET)

FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay

HARRIERS scraped into the FA Cup first round as they finally saw off spirited Bradford in extra-time on Tuesday but manager Steve Burr was in no mood to celebrate.

An upset had looked on the cards in the fourth qualifying round replay, before super-substitute Marvin Johnson produced a stunning cameo performance to break the Skrill North side’s heart and inflict their first defeat in 14 matches.

The wideman, who had replaced Joe Lolley at the start of extra-time, provided the cross which allowed Amari Morgan-Smith to bundle Harriers ahead in the 92nd minute.

Johnson then swivelled onto a pass from Danny Jackman to smash a brilliant first time effort past unprepared keeper John Lamb at his left post in the 104th.

While Bradford substitute Chib Chilaka pulled one back when he got the final touch to an Alex Davidson shot, the visitors could not find a way back.

Harriers’ progression into the first round, where they will entertain Skrill South side Sutton United, was more of a relief as the Yorkshire men had probably deserved to go through based on their performance over two scintillating cup ties.

Despite being delayed because their coach broke down on the M5 and the game kicking off 30 minutes late as a result, it was the hosts who stalled while Bradford hit top gear.

Harriers looked tentative and were given the run around by Bradford’s trio of pacey attackers Alex Davidson, Paul Walker and Jordan Deacey.

Only the woodwork prevented the visitors from winning the game inside 90 minutes.

Nicky Boshell had exposed a hole in the home defence in the 21st minute and while his shot beat keeper Danny Lewis it crashed off the base of the post.

The excellent Davidson came even closer in the 78th when he nutmegged Josh Gowling and curled in a brilliant effort from a tight angle, which crashed off the inside of the far post and somehow ricocheted away from goal.

In between those close calls, Burr had berated his players with a stinging half-time team talk and dragged off Lee Fowler and brought on Mickey Demetriou, who was playing his first match since recovering from his broken wrist.

The switch saw the eager Jackman add some energry in midfield but Harriers remained blunt up front until the arrival of Johnson, whose pace was too much for Harriers’ tiring part-time opponents.

“We kept Marvin back just for that bit of pace to inject into extra-time and it worked for us to an extent,” said Burr.

“I was disappointed that with us being a full-time side, we didn’t look as strong as them.

“That is something we have got to look at and I have had a word with the players about.”

Harriers: Lewis 7, L Vaughan 6, Gowling 6, Grimes 6, Jackman 7, Fowler 4 (Demetriou 46), Storer 6 (Byrne 71), Gittings 6, Lolley 7 (JOHNSON 91, 8), Malbon 6, Morgan-Smith 7. Subs not used: N Vaughan, Angus, Dance, Tolley.

Bradford PA: Lamb, Howarth, Drury, Marshall (Lenigham 98), Knowles, Clayton, Boshell (Chilaka 93), Davidson, Deacey (Corner 106), Walker. Subs not used: Maxfield, Hume, McMurray. Referee: Paul Rees (Scunthorpe).

Attendance: 1212 (33)