Chasetown 0
Harriers 1

HARRIERS savoured their first win of pre-season as Lloyd Kerry's late strike sank the Scholars on Tuesday night.

Kerry, who was playing his first trial game for Harriers since his release by Chesterfield, put the finishing touches on a solid display and ended a run of three friendly losses.

Harriers manager Steve Burr had picked a strong side for their fourth friendly, with only two trialists.

Former Hereford, Kettering and Forest Green man Lee Morris was also given a chance to prove himself, while ex-Wrexham man Mike Williams returned to the side after missing Saturday's loss at Nuneaton.

Trialist Morris, who had been training with Bradford this summer, made a lively start and used his power and strength to good effect.

Infact Harriers were the better side but despite having the lion's share of the play, they failed to truly test Scholars keeper Ryan Price.

Morris did well to get free in the box and slip the ball to Chris McPhee, but a desperate challenge by Chris Slater did enough to put him off.

The former Hereford and Kettering man then did well to hold up the ball and slip it to wideman David Hankin, who directed a low shot wide.

Harriers keeper Danny Lewis pulled off a fine save in the sixth minute, diving full-stretch to his right to get a finger tip to Gavin Saunders' swerving long range effort.

There was a scare for the Aggborough outfit in the 18th minute when Keith Briggs strode through two challenges to the edge of Chasetown's box, but was clumsily brought down from behind by John Branch.

Michael Briscoe then put a timely block to deny Gary Hay a shooting chance in the 26th minute, after Ramone Stephens got free on the left and delivered a low cross.

But Chasetown cranked up the pressure, with Ben Jevons heading wide from the near post from a Mark Branch corner.

Another corner by Branch was then met by a firm clearing header from Tom Sharpe in the 31st minute.

McPhee needed treatment after a clash of heads with Richard Teesdale, but after a few minutes of examination was okay to continue.

After a brief lull, the away side stepped up their tempo. Keeper Price just got a hand to cut out Hankin's cross, with McPhee waiting to head the ball in.

Morris did well to set up McPhee just before half-time, but as he tried to fire off a first-time shot, Chris Slater and John Branch slid into block him.

Harriers' rhythm was disturbed with seven of substitutions at the break.

One of the replacements, Kevin Holsgrove, could have scored two minutes into the half but sidefooted well wide from a Kyle Hadley right wing cross.

Chasetown, who had resisted the chance to change things around at the break, posed a threat and Jevons arrowed a low 20-yard effort just wide.

Substitute Callum Gittins almost marked his arrival with a goal on the hour mark after good work by Holsgrove but a firm challenge by Mark Branch averted any danger.

But the slew of changes by both sides had disrupted the game's flow.

Kyle Hadley looked the most threatening Harriers player, delivering several cross and drawing a save from Price with a low shot in the 75th minute.

But the deadlock was broken in the 84th minute, when Kerry made a well-timed run into the box. Gittins and Matty Blair had combined well to deliver a low cross, which the former Chesterfield man fired into the back of the net.

Blair almost added a second goal in time added on but his header was tipped around the post by Price.

Harriers: Harriers: Lewis (Stevens, 46); Sharpe; WIlliams (Gittings, 58); Briscoe; Shaw (Griffiths, 46); Albrighton (Vaughan, 46); Hankin (Hadley, 46); Briggs (Kerry 46, 46); McPhee (Holsgrove, 46); Morris (Blair, 46); Byrne.

Chasetown: Price; J Branch; M Branch; Slater; Saunders (Peel, 62); Teesdale (Horton, 37); Stephens (Egan, 62); Swann-Horler (L Smith, 62); Hay (D Smith, 62); Perrow; Jevons (Parsons, 70).

Unused substitutes: Faultless..

Referee: M D'Aguilar. Attendance 221