Harriers 5, Atherstone Town 0 HARRIERS cruised into the next round of the FA Cup as they dispatched a spirited Atherstone United side at Aggborough.

A Dan Bradley hat-trick and goals from Joe Ironside and sub Kane Richards saw Kidderminster overcome their opponents from Division One of the Midland League.

The Reds made four changes from the side that lost to Chester on Tuesday night as Ryan Johnson, James Baxendale, Bradley and Sam Austin replaced Kennedy Digie, Billy Daniels, Ash Chambers and Joel Taylor.

It took Harriers just three minutes to sting the palms of Town keeper Carl O’Neill. The stopper kept out Bradley’s low effort after neat build-up play down the right between Ed Williams and Lee Vaughan.

The hosts kept the pressure on in the opening stages as Bradley and strike partner Joe Ironside fired efforts narrowly wide.

Bradley was again denied by O’Neill on 21 minutes before Baxendale curled over the bar moments later from the left corner of the area.

Atherstone continued to soak up the pressure, however, and dropped deep to frustrate their hosts as the game reached the half hour mark.

Harriers continued to probe around the edge of the area and finally found a way past the visitors’ stubborn rearguard on 35 minutes.

O’Neill parried Declan Weeks’ long-range effort straight out to Bradley and he provided a neat first-time finish from 10 yards out.

The hosts should have made it two just two minutes later when Bradley hooked the ball against the bar from close range after more good build-up down the right.

Ironside saw his follow-up effort tipped away by the keeper and MacFarlane’s men had to settle with just one goal to show for their first-half dominance.

The second period continued with Harriers applying the pressure and it took them just eight minutes to double their advantage.

Ironside was fouled in the box by Adam Bilic following another quick move upfield on 52 minutes. The hitman got to his feet to convert from the spot and give his side a deserved two-goal cushion.

Three minutes later it was three as the home side’s pressure finally started to bear fruit.

Weeks played in Ironside down the right channel and he draw the keeper before squaring for Bradley to roll the ball into an empty net.

Bradley completed his hat-trick on 69 minutes when he finished beyond the outrushing O’Neill after again being found by the excellent Weeks.

The visitors came close to a consolation on 75 minutes but Brandon Hall tipped away sub Josh Ruff’s free-kick.

Sub Kane Richards capped a dominant display when firing home at the far post from Vaughan’s cross three minutes from time.

The cup victory sees the Reds bounce back quickly from their first defeat of the season and books their place in the third qualifying round on the famous competition.

Harriers: Hall, Vaughan, Austin, O’Connor (c), Horsfall, Johnson, Weeks, Baxendale, Ironside (Richards 68), Bradley (Taylor-Randle 81), Williams (Stratford 77).

Unused subs: Chambers, Digie, Palmer, Cummings.

Atherstone: O’Neill, Goodby (Harris 81), Gould, Haines, Dance, Bilic, Williams (c) (Ruff 58), Baxter (c), Naughton (Obi 69), Quinn, Kirton.

Unused subs: Harris, Elkes, Eggleton, Beeson, Mullings, Smith, Shepherd, Chadwick.

Att: 1,212 (179).