Harriers 3, Altrincham 2

HARRIERS maintained their unbeaten home record with a hard-earned victory over Altrincham.

Goals from Ed Williams, Dan Bradley and Ash Chambers were enough to give them a battling success at Aggborough as their finishing proved the difference.

Kidderminster made two changes as Chambers and Billy Daniels returned to the side to replace Joe Ironside and James Baxendale. Bradley kept his place following his FA Cup hat-trick last weekend.

The hosts flew out of the traps and broke the deadlock inside the first minute.

Ed Williams reacted quickest to fire under Elliot Wynne after the Altrincham keeper could only parry Declan Weeks’ effort from distance back out to the attacker.

Harriers’ high-energy press worked well early on as the looked to win the ball in the attacking third.

Ed Williams fired another effort at Wynne after eight minutes and Bradley drilled another just over the bar moments later.

Altrincham did settle after the frantic opening and began to enjoy more of the ball as they looked to recover from the early set-back.

Sean Williams curled an effort just wide of Brandon Hall’s far post on 16 minutes as they began to find space around the Harriers box.

The visitors did find a leveller on 22 minutes when the unmarked John Johnston swept home Owen Dale’s cross from the right.

The clash was suddenly evenly balanced with both sides working hard to get on top.

However, despite the visitors enjoyed more possession, it was Harriers that struck next with another quick move upfield on 35 minutes.

Ryan Johnson played a neat ball into the box to Bradley who turned well and fired into the far post from a narrow angle.

Altrincham so nearly showed their powers of recovery just three minutes later but goalscorer Johnston fired over from just inside the area with just Hall to beat.

Instead it was Harriers that took a tight grip on proceedings in the final moments of the half.

Chambers fired home to give his side a two-goal cushion at the break after the impressive Ed Williams had danced his way into the box. The second half remained a close encounter and quickly fell back into the pattern of Altrincham keeping the ball well under the Harriers hassle.

Max Harrop first forced Hall into an early save before then cutting his side’s deficit with a deflected free-kick on 53 minutes.

Horsfall gave away the free-kick after a heavy touch just over 20 yards out and Harrop stepped up to drive a low effort at goal. A deflection off skipper Jimmy O’Connor wrong footed the helpless Hall to make it 3-2.

Daniels then shot wide for Harriers before visiting captain Jake Moult fired over from six yard as both sides swapped chances approaching the final 20 minutes.

Johnston angled a shot narrow wide on 75 minutes as Altrincham continued to look for an equaliser.

The visitors then had a penalty shout waved away by referee James Bell as they kept the pressure on.

Harriers went close to wrapping it up with two chances of their own but first Johnson and then Williams saw efforts narrowly miss the target.

Reds took the points as Hall saved a low effort that was fired through a packed penalty area in injury time.

James Jones then headed against the woodwork with the last action of the game as Harriers held on to make it five home wins unbeaten this season.

They have now cut the gap to leaders Chorley to seven points and will turn their attention to next Saturday’s FA Cup clash at neighbours Stourbridge.

Harriers: Hall, Vaughan, Austin, O’Connor (c), Horsfall, Johnson, Weeks, Daniels, Bradley (Ironside 70), Chambers (Richards 72), Williams (Baxendale 87).

Unused subs: Digie, Palmer.

Altrincham: Wynne, White, Hampson, Jones, Hannigan, Moult (c), Johnson, Williams (Poole (77), Peers (Hulme 56), Harrop, Dale (Hancock 56).

Unused subs: Goulding, Thompson.

Att: 1,517.