KIDDERMINSTER Harriers battled to a hard fought 2-1 away win at Curzon Ashton thanks to a late George Waring goal, writes Josh Bunting.

Skipper Ryan Croasdale had earlier handed the Reds a lead before the hosts hit back.

Sub Waring made sure his side took all three points though and also bagged their first win away from Aggborough in nine attempts.

Curzon started the better and could have gone ahead inside the first minute at the Tameside Stadium as Niall Cummins latched on to a Chris Rowney freekick before his header crashed off the crossbar after it has beaten Brandon Hall all ends up.

Kidderminster Harriers created their first chance on 17 minutes as Emmuanuel Sonupe fizzed in a low freekick, but he was denied by a good save by Cameron Mason in the Curzon goal.

Harriers thought they had taken the lead on 22 minutes as Frazer Horsfall met a Declan Weeks cross perfectly, but his header was well saved by Mason who clawed the ball away from danger.

Mason came to the rescue minutes later as he made a superb low save to keep out a powerful long-range strike from Joe Ironside after good link up play with Elton Ngwatala.

John Eustace must have been cursing his luck as his side were facing an inspired goalkeeper as he made yet another terrific stop to keep out Ironside once again as he was played through on goal by Weeks.

In an entertaining end to end first half Curzon thought they had broken the deadlock as Hall made a fine reaction save as he tipped a James Bailie freekick over his crossbar.

The visitors were playing the better football and they should have been ahead when Elton Ngwatala was played in by McQuilkin his low strike however was well saved by the impressive Mason at his near post.

On the stroke of the break the Harriers should have scored when Sonupe slipped a defence splitting pass into the feet of Ironside but he blazed his effort over from four yards out.

The second half started as the first half had ended with the visitors on top as they created another opportunity on 48 minutes when Sonupe fired wide after he met a low Ironside cross perfectly to the frustration of the visiting supporters.

However, Harriers took the lead on 50 minutes as Sonupe broke down the right before he squared the ball for captain Croasdale who lashed his effort into the net leaving Mason only a spectator.

In a flurry of chances for Kidderminster they were denied yet again by Mason as Lee Vaughan delivered a cross to the back post allowing Ironside to get a free header in on goal only for him to see his effort tipped over by the home keeper.

Curzon grabbed an equaliser on 71 minutes as Aaron Dwyer on his debut picked out Jonathan Hunt with a fantastic cross before he thumped his header into the net.

Eustace’s side within a minute of the restart thought they had gone ahead as McQuilkin powered down the right before swinging a cross into Ngwatala but he headed his effort just wide of the target when he should have made the keeper work.

Curzon Ashton then could have gone ahead themselves as Dwyer found space on the edge of the Harriers box, but he chipped his effort just over the crossbar.

However, the Harriers restored their lead with ten minutes as Dan Bradley threaded a super pass into Waring before he took the ball around Mason and finished from a tight angle.

Ngwatala then had another good opportunity to score and seal all three points as he was played in by another superb Bradley pass, but he was denied at the last minute as Matthew Regan made a fantastic tackle.

Waring was putting in a superb shift for the Harriers since being brought on and he was denied his second of the night as he was played in on goal by McQuilkin, but his low effort was well dealt with by Mason at his near post in the final piece of action.