Harriers 5, Tamworth 3

THE score suggests a thriller but in reality Harriers never looked in danger of losing to their relegation battling Midlands rivals.

Kidderminster and the Lambs may have shared six goals in a mad-cap second-half but there was a yawning gap in quality between the hosts and the visitors.

In fact, Harriers could have scored double figures if not for the heroics of Tamworth shot-stopper Cameron Belford.

Manager Steve Burr’s only real complaint was that his side conceded three goals in a match they completely controlled.

But the Aggborough side stretched their unbeaten record at home in all competitions to nine games, which coincidentally was the same record they boast over the Lambs.

“I thought Cameron Belford produced an outstanding display and he also did that when we played at Tamworth,” said Burr.

“We were pleased to get the three points but some of the saves he pulled off we're tremendous.

“We were very pleased with how we started, we had seven efforts on target in the first five minutes.

“The message at half-time was to deal with their set pieces, so it was disappointing they got a corner and scored.

“That gave them a little bit of a lift but again we scored almost immediately.

“There were lots of goals and lots of excitement.”

Such was the dominance of Kidderminster in the first-half, Tamworth’s fightback after the break was unimaginable.

Two goals in as many minutes seemed to have put the game beyond Tamworth, with striker Michael Gash providing the assists.

His neat flick allowed Anthony Malbon to round Belford in the 20th minute, before slotting home.

Moments later, Joe Lolley cut in from the right and lashed home his seventh of a fine debut Skrill Premier campaign.

If not for Belford, Harriers would have gone into the break with a healthy lead.

The inspired keeper tipped over a Gash free-kick and also denied Lolley and Lee Vaughan.

But the hosts were given a fright when Tamworth pulled a goal back against the run of play, when ex-Harrier Richard Peniket flicked a header from a corner into the back of the net in the 50th minute.

Six minutes later, the hosts re-established their two-goal lead when Amari Morgan-Smith swept home after being supplied by the effervescent Lolley.

Tamworth improbably hit back when David Morgan’s fine free-kick caught out Danny Lewis, which arrowed into the top right corner on the hour mark.

Gash endured a frustrating game where he saw gilt edge chances go begging.

He had hit the woodwork with a first-half effort and endured further bad luck in the second period, with Belford tipping over a fine effort.

Harriers though finally saw off their spirited opponents with two more goals.

First, Morgan-Smith finished neatly in the 77th minute to make it 4-2, while former Tamworth man Kyle Storer slammed home a volley to end the game as a contest.

Nick Chadwick bagged an 89th minute consolation for the Lambs, which gave a one-sided clash the illusion it was closer than it really was.

Harriers: Lewis, 6 L Vaughan 7, Jackman 6, Gowling 6, Dunkley 6, Storer 7, Fowler 7 (Demetriou, 84), Lolley 8 (Dance, 86), Malbon 7 (Byrne , 70), Gash 7, MORGAN-SMITH 8. Subs not used: N Vaughan, Blissett.

Tamworth: Belford, Richards-Everton, Richards, Courtney, Peniket, Capaldi, Todd (Wright, 82), Chadwick, Hildreth, Morgan, Keane. Subs not used: Kerry, Baker, Byfield, Croasdale.

Referee: Nicholas Kinesley (Essex).

Attendance: 1,951 (103).