Harriers 0, Burton Albion 2

A brace for Burton goal-getter Marcus Harness saw Championship new boys bag friendly win at Aggborough.

The livewire bagged a goal in each half and proved to be the difference on an otherwise evenly-balanced match.

This was Harriers' third game in three days, just 24 hours after their Worcestershire Senior Cup game against Stourbridge.

With semi-final against Evesham on Thursday and potentially a final on Saturday and a home friendly against Doncaster, the management team of John Eustace and Matt Gardiner rang the changes.

Burton fielded a team packed with first team players, although trialists Lee Williamson and Ryan Delaney started for them.

The hosts also had three unnamed trialists in the line-up while new addition Sam Austin started against his old club and veteran centre back Wayne Thomas debuted at home.

The Brewers opened the scoring in the seventh minute thanks to a stray pass at the back which allowed Harness to coolly slot past keeper Sam Hornby.

The away side dominated possession for the opening 25 minutes but failed to test the home keeper again.

But French midfielder maestro Elton Ngwatala looked dangerous for the home side, racing to the edge of the box before firing wide in the 29th minute.

Harriers ended the first half encouragingly with more of the ball but despite some lovely play could not quite open up the hosts to test Stephen Bywater in goal.

The home team created a chance within 60 seconds when a trialist saw a curling effort tipped over the bar by Bywater.

Wayne Thomas also saw a header from a corner clip the bar.

The home side made changes early in the half with Arthur Gnahoua replacing a trialist and Keith Lowe on for defender Ashley Carter.

Harriers fell 2-0 on the hour mark in harsh circumstances, when Hornby was adjudged to have fouled Tom Naylor in the box and Harness rolled home the resulting spot-kick.

Both teams started to make wholesale changes with multiple substitutions.

Harriers replacements Andre Brown and James McQuilkin saw chances just fly wide in the 80th minute.

Despite pushing hard late on, the home side could not pull back a consolation goal their endeavour deserved.

Harriers: Hornby, Williams (Smith, 82), Francis-Angol, Fane (Clarke, 71), Carter (Lowe, 53), Austin, Trialist (Trialist, 61), Trialist (Brown, 66), Ngwatala (McQuilkin, 61), Trialist (Gnahoua, 54).

Subs not used: Trialist, Hancocks, Forsyth, Trialist.

Bywater, Edwards, Reilly (McCrory, 64), Mousinho (Irvine, 71), Delaney (McLaughlin, 84), Naylor (Flanagan, 71), Fox, Williamson (Akins, 64), Butcher (Beavon, 64), Palmer (Turner, 72), Harness (O'Grady, 64).

Referee: John Brooks Attendance: 607 (80)