Blackpool 2, Harriers 0

KIDDERMINSTER failed to cause an FA Cup upset after two first half goals, one from former Harriers striker Jamille Matt, made sure Blackpool progressed.

The league side took their chances when they arrived at a subdued Bloomfield Road and the Reds just couldn't recover in the first round contest.

The first half started evenly as Harriers acquitted themselves well to the task of playing against their League Two opponents.

Elton Ngwatala had a shot blocked on the edge of the box after eight minutes following a couple of Harriers corner kicks.

Brad Potts hit a snapshot wide of the target on 18 minutes for the hosts but the clash continued to be a scrappy affair for large spells until the deadlock was finally broken by Matt against his former club.

The unmarked forwarded headed home from six yards out after Kyle Vassell had hooked a cross into the box following a Blackpool throw deep in Harriers territory.

Harriers tried to answer but just couldn't get their passing game going, especially in the final third.

Ngwatala had to drop deeper and deeper to try to have an impact the longer the half wore on.

The best chance for the visitors fell to defender Keith Lowe after a well-worked corner.

His effort from a narrow angle was pushed away by keeper Sam Slocombe.

Blackpool got their second on 37 minutes when Potts rifled beyond Sam Hornby at the second attempt after the ball fell nicely into his path after Lowe's initial block.

The game could have been wrapped up before the break but substitute Danny Philliskirk, on after goalscorer Matt picked up an injury, fired wide in injury time with only Hornby to beat.

The first half, though a close affair, was all about Blackpool taking their chances when they arrived.

But any hope that the late miss might hand Harriers a lifeline going into the second half quickly faded as it was the Tangerines quicker out the blocks after the break.

Within a minute Michael Cain was curling an effort just wide before calling Hornby into action on 50 minutes with another drive from outside the area.

Harriers' best chance of the half fell to Mani Dieseurvwe after Williams' ball from the right caused problems at the heart of the Blackpool defence.

He pounced on a loose ball but fired at Slocombe from close range on 55 minutes.

That was as good as it got for the visitors who struggled to work any openings as Blackpool controlled things and kept the ball better as the game ebbed away from manager John Eustace's men.

Their attention will now once more turn to maintaining their push at the top end of the National League North.

Blackpool: Slocombe, Mellor, Taylor (c), McAlister, Robertson, Vassell, (Cullen 80) Potts , Nolan, Yeates (Daniel 80) Matt (Philliskirk 34), Cain.

Unused Subs: Boney, Aimson, Osayi-Samuel, Gnanduillet.

Harriers: Hornby, Williams, Francis-Angol (Truslove 45), Carter, Lowe, Tunnicliffe, Waite, McQuilkin, Dieseruvwe, Ngwatala (Brown 64), Gnahoua (Austin 73).

Unused Subs: Austin, Brown, Stambolziev, Truslove, Evans, Palmer.

Att: 1,963