Hednesford 0
Harriers 3

HARRIERS ended a long pre-season friendly programme with a win at Keys Park but the gloss was taken off by John Finnigan's injury on Saturday.

The 34-year-old was stretchered off near the half hour mark with a suspected knee problem after Chris Clements' strong challenge.

Tom Sharpe also came off with an injury, which will be news that manager Steve Burr doesn't need to hear before Saturday's Blue Square Bet Premier opener at York next Saturday.

Those problems took the shine off a professional display against a well-drilled Hednesford side, who did their best to knock Harriers out of their stride.

Burr had picked a strong line-up, with the only absence Lee Vaughan, who is suspended for Harriers' four games, starting on the bench. That meant Tom Shaw played at right-back.

And the away side made a scoring start to the game when Chris McPhee fired them ahead 12 seconds into the match.

From the kick-off, Tom Sharpe played the ball forward into the box and McPhee stabbed the ball past surprised keeper Dan Crane.

The Pitmen responded well and keeper Danny Lewis made two saves inside two minutes to keep the scores level.

First, he dived to his left to palm away Mark Bellingham's firm 20-yard effort.

The former Redditch shot-stopper then did well to block Clements' low shot which sneaked through a crowded box.

Winger David Hankin headed wide at the far post after good play by Mike Williams had allowed Callum Gittings to send in a tasty delivery.

But Harriers' preparations for the new season suffered a setback in the 28th minute when Finnigan was brought down by Clements' firm challenge and stretchered off with a suspected knee problem.

There were more injury worries for Burr when centre back Sharpe walked off rubbing his hip and was replaced by Michael Briscoe in the 34th minute.

Centre back Mark Albrighton used all of his experience to head a raking right wing cross from Dorryll Proffitt in the 37th minute.

Briscoe should have marked his arrival with a goal in the 39th minute. McPhee had done well to control David Hankin's cross and play it back to the defender but his tame effort hit the bottom of the post.

But Lee Morris doubled Harriers' lead in the 43rd minute, when he raced onto Gittings' pass and chipped the ball over keeper Crane.

The hosts started the second half brightly, with Jack Byrne's low effort forcing a save from Crane in the 49th minute.

The game's flow was disturbed by a rash of substitutions were made by both sides.

Harriers skipper Keith Briggs had a goal ruled out for offside harshly after he raced to the far post and nodded the ball into the back of the net.

But he made up for that with a low close range finish in the 82nd minute to make it 3-0 to Harriers and ensure they ended their friendly campaign with six successive wins.

Harriers: Lewis (Stevens, 79); Williams (Griffiths, 75); Finnigan (Byrne, 31); Shaw (Vaughan, 59); Albrighton; Hankin (Wright, 59); Briggs; Morris; McPhee (Blair, 66); Sharpe (Briscoe, 34); Gittings (Hadley, 66).

Hednesford: Crane; Platt (Osborne, 68); Keenan; Bailey (Dunkley, 59); Turner; Denny; Proffitt (Proffitt, 63); Bridgewater (Craddock, 74); Bellingham; Clements (Patterson, 56); Gibson (Burgher, 56).

Unused substitutes: Brock.

Referee: Alan Sheffield.