Oxford 1
Harriers 2

HARRIERS hero Robbie Matthews paid tribute to his team-mates and the small army of travelling fans after his late strike booked their spot in the FA Trophy semi-final on Saturday.

Matthews came off the bench to bag the winner to ensure Harriers pulled off the result of the round and powered into a two-legged semi-final against Stevenage, with a Wembley final awaiting the winners.

The £8,000 prize money earned will also be handy for the club’s coffers but beating the Blue Square Premier leaders and Trophy favourites will also go down in the club’s folklore.

While Matthews was the hero for his clinical late strike, victory was earned because of a fine overall team performance.

After the game the 6ft 4in tall hitman alluded to the efforts of his teammates, particularly Brian Smikle, and the 417 away fans who roared them onto a memorable win.

He said: “It’s a big goal for Kidderminster because they’ve beaten Oxford, who were probably the favourites.

“All I had to do was get past my man at the front post and Junior put it in for me to score. I’m delighted and all the fans are buzzing.

“They got behind us really well and were loud, it was good to have the support.”

Matthews had found himself on the bench in preference to Damian Spencer and the on-loan Kettering man's all-action style kept U’s defence, particularly Mark Creighton, occupied.

It was his strike partner Darryl Knights, making a rare start under Steve Burr’s stewardship, who signalled Harriers fearless ethos when he fired a low cross from Dean Bennett over the bar.

Knights then played a key part in the slickest of counter-attacks that embodied all the qualities of the term ‘poetry in motion’.

Duane Courtney got the ball rolling in the 16th minute, when he won the ball from an Oxford corner made good ground on the right and picked out Knights in the centre circle.

The forward released the strong running Bennett with an instantaneous reverse pass that allowed him to power down the right and deliver a low cross, which goal-mouth predator Smikle smartly slotted between keeper Billy Turley and the post.

Harriers’ opponents had made six changes for this game as U’s boss Chris Wilder balanced Trophy progress and promotion to the Football League.

Despite missing several first team regulars they piled the pressure on the visitors, who defended resolutely and restricted the hosts to a few half chances.

The closest they came was when Creighton’s header clipped the bar.

As as a result their leveller in the 65th minute came as a surprise to everyone.

Keeper Ross Atkins had enjoyed a fine debut for the Worcestershire side after joining on-loan from Derby County in the week.

In the first half he had denied Adam Chapman and Simon Clist with outstretched saves, and also demonstrated razor-sharp reflexes to thwart Jamie Cook from close range as he tried to pounce a loose ball.

But the young keeper and centreback Martin Riley collided and allowed Matt Green to level the scores.

The equaliser signalled a desperate push by the hosts to find a winner and avoid an unwanted mid-week replay.

Substitute Ashley Cain fizzed a long range effort just wide of Atkins’ goal and Green’s effort actually ricocheted off the foot of teammate Creighton.

But the gaps left by Oxford gave Harriers heart and the ever-reliable Smikle made the difference in the 83rd minute.

The wideman had done well to keep the ball in play as he sped to the byline and pull it back for Matthews, on the pitch for just under 10 minutes, who had the alertness of mind to speed past his marker and finish at the near post with aplomb.

It was a reminder of mercurial hitman’s goal-scoring ability and a message to the manager of his worth.

After the game, Burr was pleased with his side’s incisive display of counter-attacking.

He said: “Oxford put us under a little pressure in the second half but I always felt we would score. We hit them on the break a few times.

“I was delighted with the first half performance but we gave the ball away in the second half, which is understandable when you come here.

“We’re pleased to be in the semi-final, it’s fantastic.”

“Our first goal was something we’ve been working on in training.

“From their corner we’ve scored, it was a great move which was finished off well.”

If Harriers are to see off Stevenage Borough over 180 minutes in the last, then there will be more slick football needed.

Harriers: Atkins 7; Courtney 8; Baker 8; Finnigan 7; Caines 9; Riley 8; McPhee 7; Bennett 7 (Bignot, 66); Knights 7 (Matthews 74); Smikle 9; Spencer 8. Unused substitutes: Singh; Hadley; Sharpe.

Oxford: Turley; Batt; Sandwith; Bulman; Creighton; Chapman; Constable; Clist (Deering, 62); Wright; Green; Cook (Cain, 46). Unused substitutes: Hargreaves; Day; Clarke. Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire). Attendance: 3,358 (417)