Harriers 4, Sutton 1

HARRIERS’ FA Cup joy runneth over after a stunning display booked their place in the second round on Saturday.

Steve Burr’s side made a mockery of pre-match fears that in-form Sutton may cause an upset as the Skrill South high-fliers were swept aside in emphatic style.

They made sure of their best cup run since reaching the third round in the 2008-09 campaign, to set up a tough but winnable second round tie against either Braintree or last season’s play-off winners Newport.

But whoever the Aggborough outfit face will be wary as Harriers finally seem to have found their feet in the competition.

In previous years, Kidderminster have been knocked out by lower ranked sides such as Fleetwood, who then playing in Conference North, and Corby Town and only two weeks ago they scraped past Skrill North side Bradford Park Avenue over two tense matches.

Victory was inspired by Harriers’ often under-rated midfield dynamo Callum Gittings, who capped a brilliant display with a well-taken goal.

“It’s everyone’s dream to play in the cup and score,” said the Birmingham-based midfielder.

“It’s took a while, we’ve been trying to get through the qualifying rounds for a few years.

“Sutton are a half decent footballing team but I thought we played really well and deserved to win.

“We kept the ball well and it’s the best we’ve played in a while.

“The pitch held up really well, its suits us because we’re a good passing team with lots of energy.”

Chey Dunkley put a smile on everyone’s face with a return to action after six weeks out with a knee injury but it was Sutton who struck first.

The Surrey side had thoughts of upset when Charlie Clough punished slack marking to put away a well-placed header from Sam Rents’s corner in the 10th minute.

But the goal merely galvanised Harriers and the visitors fell apart under the hosts’ onslaught.

Amari Morgan-Smith levelled three minutes later after Michael Gash’s strike had hit Craig Dundas.

On 18 minutes, Gittings raced onto Gash’s pass and with keeper Thomas Lovelock approaching, slotted a lovely curling effort into the back of the net.

Joe Lolley put the game beyond doubt on the hour mark.

The 21-year-old made Sutton’s defence look like it was running in slow motion as he escaped his marker on the right, sped into the box and slotted his left-footed effort past Lovelock with confidence.

Substitute Anthony Malbon bagged a fourth in the 90th minute.

Harriers: Lewis 7, L Vaughan 7, Jackman 7, Dunkley 7, Gowling 7, Morgan-Smith 7, Storer 7, Fowler 7 (Dance 71), Lolley 7, Gash 7, GITTINGS 8. Subs not used: N Vaughan, Grimes, Brown.

Sutton: Loveolock, Clough, Rents (Scannell 67), Stuart (Folkes 67), Downer, Fusieni, Rivière, Dundas, Slabber, MacDonald (Nelson 68), Binns. Subs not used: Telfer, Sinclair, Shaw.

Referee: Justin Amey (Dorset).

Attendance: 2,045 (178).