10:17pm Monday 1st February 2010
By Steve Carley
WORCESTER City's FA Trophy dream was shattered at St George's Lane as Kidderminster Harriers progressed to a quarter-final meeting against Oxford United.
Visiting captain Chris McPhee’s 53rd-minute strike proved the difference to bag the £7,000 prize pot in the third round encounter, watched by a cash-boosting crowd of 1,653.
But Carl Heeley’s men gave their all and must now channel this effort into their quest for survival in Blue Square South.
City, unchanged from their 4-0 second-round replay win at Carshalton, matched Harriers all the way and strained every sinew in the first meeting between the sides outside the Worcestershire Senior Cup in a quarter of a century.
Their effort was typified by Mark Clyde, the assistant player-manager replacing the injured Marc McGregor midway through the first-half and giving an immense performance as the hosts battled throughout.
Following a 15-minute delay to kick-off due to crowd congestion, Steve Burr’s Harriers started the brighter but City soon found their feet.
The home crowd must have thought their troops had taken the lead just eight minutes in but McGregor's stinging volley came crashing back off the inside of the post before Harriers’ Brian Smikle headed straight at Jake Meredith.
However, it was oppposite number Jasbir Singh who was busiest of the half.
Alfie Carter powered down the left wing, turned Martin Riley and drilled in a low cross which Rob Davies fired goalwards but Singh scrambled the effort behind.
Injury forced McGregor to make way for Clyde, freeing Elvins to partner Marco Adaggio up front, but it didn’t hinder City. Heeley’s men had the bit between their teeth and Carter drilled wide from 20 yards before Adaggio set up Elvins in the area, his shot was blocked and Davies fizzed the loose ball past the upright.
Smikle provided City a timely reminder of the Aggborough side’s presence as he sent Meredith sprawling to his left after a header.
Harriers started brightly after the break with McPhee heading over a Dean Bennett corner. The breakthrough came on 53 minutes when John Finnigan chipped the ball into the box and McPhee ghosted in unmarked to prod the ball past the helpless Meredith.
McPhee later stuck the ball wide after Meredith had spilled Wayne Daniel's defensive header while, at the other end, Adaggio lofted the ball agonisingly over the bar when in the clear.
City: Meredith 8, Ward 8, Shabir 8, Wilding 8, Daniel 8, Kemp 8, Davies (Walker 83) 8, Elvins 8, McGregor (Clyde 22, 9*) 8, Adaggio 8, Carter (Dinsmore 71) 8. Subs not used: Spencer, Fitzpatrick.
Harriers: Singh, Courtney, Baker, Finnigan, Caines, Riley, McPhee, Bennett, Smikle, Farrell (Hadley 68), Spencer. Subs not used: Knights, Sharpe, Hayward, Coleman.
Referee: M Heywood (Northwich).
Attendance: 1,693.
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