Harriers 0, Bradford Park Avenue 2

HARRIERS saw their promotion hopes end in heartbreak once again with a play-off defeat against Bradford Park Avenue.

Kidderminster lost in the play-offs for the second year in a row as the visitors bagged a 2-0 win in the quarter-final at Aggborough.

Adam Boyes bagged an early goal for the visitors before Harriers pushed hard for a way back.

Bradford weathered the storm before striking late on to seal their progress.

Harriers made a host of changes with Fraser Horsfall, Jimmy O'Connor, Ryan Croasdale, James McQuilkin and Joe Ironside all coming in.

However, Bradford, buoyed by the weekend win over John Eustace's men that secured them a play-off return to Kidderminster, started the clash well and soon found themselves ahead after 11 minutes.

Adam Boyes provided the neat finish after being played in by Oli Johnson.

Boyes had kept his side's season alive with an injury time winner at Aggborough four days before and quickly carried on where he left off.

The hosts struggled to get into a rhythm for long spells as Bradford worked hard to shut down the space.

The clash remained evenly balanced at the half hour mark as Bradley and then Wayne Brooksby both fired wide for their respective sides.

Harriers finally began to get on top approaching the break and it took a fine save from Drench to keep out Bradley's curling effort from 25 yards on 39 minutes.

The keeper then got behind a low McQuilkin effort moments later as Harriers soon chalked up the chances.

There was still time for Drench to claw away a looping header from Ironside to make sure his side took their narrow advantage into the break.

Harriers enjoyed more possession after the restart and Ngwatala worked their first effort when firing at Drench from distance.

It was another Ngwatala drive from outside the box on 53 minutes that nearly brought a leveller.

His dipping effort took a fierce bounce in front of Drench and somehow diverted off the keeper's shoulder and over the bar.

The Reds continued to control the tempo and passed up another chance as Declan Weeks blazed over after the ball had fell kindly for him from a corner.

Bradford dropped deeper and deeper as the hosts kept the pressure on.

Ironside and Bradley both failed to convert dangerous crosses from sub Mani Sonupe to the far post.

The home side were asking serious questions of the Bradford rearguard but just couldn't find a way through.

The main threat came from Sonupe and he again set up the best chance of the half on 70 minutes with more lightening wing play.

This time the ball found a way to Taylor at the far post but he fired well over from eight yards out.

Bradford still carried a threat on the counter' however, and nearly doubled their advantage just short of the final 15 minutes.

Both Frank Mulhern and Boyes rattled the upright in quick succession after a rare break up field.

They visitors did bag the crucial second in the 78th minute when Oli Johnson fired under Hall from close range after Boyes' low cross from the left.

Harriers will look back at the chances that went begging early in the second half as they face another year in National League North.

Harriers: Hall, Vaughan, Taylor, Croasdale (c), Horsfall, O'Connor, Weeks (Waring 80), McQuilkin (Sonupe 60), Ironside, Bradley, Ngwatala.

Unused subs: Brown, Austin, Pearson.

Bradford: Drench, Ross, Atkinson, Wroe (c), Killock, Havern, Brooksby, Spencer, Boyes, Johnson, Mulhern (Vidal 84).

Unused subs: Toulson, Hall, Boshell, Smith.

Att: 2,291 (78).