WORCESTERSHIRE SENIOR CUP FINAL: Evesham United 2 Kidderminster Harriers 1

EVEN Elton Ngwatala's surprise appearance in Harriers colours could not inspire a successful defence of the Worcestershire Senior Cup against a robust Evesham United.

The streetwise Robins pressed and snapped into challenges in an at-times spiky clash with youthful Kidderminster at United's Jubilee Stadium headquarters.

Josh Webb's 65th-minute rebound cancelled out Greg Peel's second-half strike but within two minutes, Evesham plundered what proved to the winner courtesy of Matt Liddiard's thumping header.

Harriers carried a sporadic threat from there but the hosts had plenty of chances to seal the deal and comfortably saw out the success.

With a high-profile friendly against Birmingham City 24 hours later, it was an experimental Kidderminster side which featured five trialists and a host of emerging talents alongside more familiar faces Ngwatala and Andre Brown.

The visitors were under pressure from the off with Ngwatala quickly in the thick of the action, sliding in to prevent Pell pulling the trigger with 10 minutes played.

Carl Brown's nudge towards goal was touched wide by the on-trial Harriers keeper who then parried away strongly Adam Mann's driven effort.

Junior Joachim ruffled a few feathers at the other end with a 20-yard shot that bounced wide before Archie Haskayne again tested the water with a blast towards goal for United.

A deserved breakthrough arrived for the hosts on 52 minutes when a ricochet dropped kindly for Peel to stroke inside the far post from 12 yards.

Joachim hit the woodwork having galloped down the right as Harriers upped the ante, while Leroy Odiero spurned a golden chance by heading over for Evesham.

Brown wriggled free and turned inside to force a fine low save from Sam Gilder only for Webb to react first and level but the joy was short lived as Liddiard powered home after Mann had recycled a half-cleared corner on 67 minutes.

Joachim showed more promise but little poise with another dash and wayward finish, while Brown was again thwarted by Gilder having wriggled free.

Evesham finished on top, though, with Matt Williams heading off target when free at the far post and Jordan Bryan hitting the upright from an acute angle following a defensive slip.