Harriers 1, Birmingham City 2

HARRIERS gave another encouraging pre-season performance despite a narrow loss against a youthful Birmingham City side.

It took Blues' under-23s just six minutes to open the scoring at Aggborough as Odin Bailey took advantage of a loose touch from defender Ryan Johnson. He gathered the ball outside the box before a deflected effort looped beyond keeper Tom Palmer.

Harriers continued to knock the ball around neatly without troubling visiting keeper Martin Trnovsky.

Joe Ironside squandered their best opening when he failed to control wing-back Joel Taylor's well-measured ball from the left on 25 minutes.

Blues worked a couple of chances through the running of forward Nicoli Brock-Madsen but Harriers pressed high up the pitch well to ensure the half ended all square.

The game continued to be an even affair early in the second period as both sides dug deep without the ball.

Harriers eventually got on top and worked the best move of the match on 57 minutes with a swift break down the left. Ironside converted Taylor's cross but was denied by the linesman's flag.

The Reds did bag a deserved leveller on 69 minutes when Ironside buried a free header from sub Lee Vaughan's angled ball in.

However, their lead lasted only four minutes as Greg Stewart's mazy run and low finish put the youngsters from the Championship outfit back in front.

Harriers pushed for an equaliser but couldn't find a way through despite the late pressure.

Starting XIs Harriers: Palmer, Austin, Taylor, O'Connor, Trialist, Johnson, Baxendale, Truslove, Ironside, Chambers, Stratford.

Blues: Trnovski, Dawes, Grounds, McGip, Bajrmai, Lupano, Stewart, Boyd-Munce, Brock-Madsen, Bailey, Baker.

Att: 545.