Harriers 2, Macclesfield 1

HARRIERS scored two high quality goals as Gary Whild enjoyed his first win in the Aggborough hot-seat on Tuesday night.

Callum Gittings' spectacular early effort and a predatory finish from former Macclesfield man Amari Morgan-Smith made it four points from two games for the new manager.

Victory lifted the Reds to ninth in the Skrill Premier, just three points away from the play-off spots.

Whild was forced into one change from Saturday's draw at Wrexham.

With captain Kyle Storer suspended, Josh O'Keefe was drafted into midfield.

But the hosts made a perfect start when they opened the scoring 45 seconds after kick-off.

Gittings let-fly with a swerving dipping 25-yard effort which flew over keeper Rhys Taylor.

The home side pushed for goals. Mickey Demetriou's long range missile rattled the bar in the eighth minute and Anthony Malbon fired the round over the bar.

Kidderminster suffered a setback in the 13th minute when winger Adrian Cieslewicz limped off after colliding with Taylor and was replaced by Marvin Johnson.

Slowly but surely, Macc worked their way back into the game and Paul Turnbull saw a free-kick fly just wide in the 20th minute.

A nice pass from O'Keefe released Malbon five minutes later but the attack went to waste.

Morgan-Smith then squared the ball to O'Keefe instead of shooting in a good  position.

But Harriers doubled their lead in the 38th minute with a superb counter-attack.

Johnson raced 50 yards before picking put Morgan-S other with a deft first time ball and the striker coolly slotted past the on rushing Taylor.

But the visitors pulled one back two minutes earlier, when Danny Whitaker applied a low finish to Scott Boden's cross from the left.

Macclesfield started the second half with purpose and applied a lot of pressure on the home defence.

But Harriers' defence stood firm under the onslaught.

The Silkmen's best chance to level fell in the 66th minute but Gittings made a fine block to deny Scott Boden's close range effort.

Lee Vaughan was shown was yellow card for a foul on Maccesfield substitute Danny Rowe.

in the final ten minutes, Macclesfield poured forward in search of a leveller.

Keeper Danny Lewis, who had made a host of vital interceptions, plucked a cross from substitute Jack Mackreth out of the air in the 88th minute.

But the home side could not hold onto and ball and invited their opponents onto them.

But they defended stubbornly to see off their rivals and record a much needed victory.

Harriers: Lewis, L Vaughan, Demetriou, Malbon (Wright, 83), Grimes, Jackman, Gittings, Morgan-Smith, O'Keefe, Cieslewicz (Johnson, 13 (Bell, 92), Gowling.

Subs not used: N Vaughan, Rowe.

Macclesfield: Taylor, Connor, Andrew, Turnbull, Holroyd (Sodje, 75), Winn (Rowe, 65), Boden, Whitaker, Kay (Mackreth, 84), Halls, Pilkington.

Subs not used: Martin, Williams.

Referee: Darren Handley (Lancs).

Attendance: 1591 (64)