Curzon Ashton 1, Kidderminster Harriers 6

IMPRESSIVE Harriers recorded one of their biggest opening day victories in living memory and started the National North emphatically with a stunning win at Curzon Ashton.

Kidderminster's young side provided the perfect start for new boss John Eustace as a superb first half left the home side reeling.

A brace for Arthur Gnahoua and strikes by Elton Ngwatala, Mani Dieseruvwe and Ashley Carter saw Kiddy powered into a 5-0 lead by half-time.

Substitute Liam Truslove added another and despite Curzon pulling one back through Joe Guest, there was no doubting that the Reds had put behind them last season's relegation.

The away side demonstrated impressive finishing to back-up their excellent passing style on a snooker table of a pitch.

They opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Ngwatala slotted home from ten yards out after a fine driving run by left-back Zaine Francis-Angol.

It would have been 2-0 several minutes later, if not for a fine save by Curzon keeper Hakan Burton to deny Ngwatala.

New signing Dieseruvwe opened his account for the club in the 15th minute when he headed home a James McQuilkin cross.

The goals kept coming and midfield enforcer Carter drilled a 25-yard effort into the bottom left corner.

Curzon were offering very little going forward and striker Niall Cummins, who did his best to wind up Harriers with some physical play, fired over the bar.

McQuilkin was also booked for encroaching on an Ashton free-kick.

Gnahoua ensured the away team powered into a 5-0 lead. The gifted French forward rounded Burton to score from a tight angle after a fine pass by Ngwatala in the 34th minute.

Ngwatala pounced on a poor pass at the back to tee up Gnahoua.

Eustace made a change at the start of the second half, talking off McQuilkin as a precaution and handing new signing Robert Stambolziev his debut.

The substitute was given a chance to add a sixth and he thumped a firm free-kick just wide.

The away team continued to carve open the shell-shocked home side in the 53rd minute but Burton denied Dieseruvwe.

Kidderminster threw on youngster Sam Austin and Truslove for Gnahoua and Ngwatala.

Curzon had rallied after their poor first half display and midfielder Iain Hoard sees a low 30-yard effort roll off target.

The score was 6-0 in the 68th minute when Truslove slammed home a great shot from 20-yards.

Curzon pulled a goal back in the 71st minute when Joe Guest put away a thumping header.

Dieseruvwe nearly bagged a seventh for the visitors after rounding Curzon's keeper but he shot into the side netting.

Kiddy keeper Sam Hornby had to be alert late on as Curzon pushed for another consolation, denying Iain Howard and Guest.

Harriers: Hornby, Hodgkiss, Francis-Angol, Carter, Lowe, Tunnicliffe, Waite, McQuilkin (Stambolziev, 46) Dieseruvwe, Ngwatala (Truslove, 62), Gnahoua (Austin, 57).

Subs not used: Williams, Brown.

Curzon: Burton, Rowney, Hampson, Hunt, Watson, Tomsett (Watson, 46), Wright, Howard, Cummins (Hall, 55), Ennis, Brooke (Guest, 46).

Subs not used: Mason, Gorman.

Referee: Kelvin Sarsfield Attendance: 493