Harriers 1, FC United 2

HARRIERS suffered their first home defeat of the season against bottom-placed FC United of Manchester.

Kidderminster had led in the contest through Ed Williams’ early strike before two deflected efforts from Jack Banister turned the game.

Harriers made two changes as Dan Bradley and Ryan Johnson replaced Kennedy Digie and Joe Ironside and were quickly out of the blocks at Aggborough.

It took them just five minutes to open the scoring after Declan Weeks’ free-kick found the in-form Williams at the edge of the box. He took a touch before curling beyond Lloyd Allison and into the top corner to notch his seventh goal in successive league games.

The visitors did work a chance of their own on eight minutes but Brandon Hall kept out Michael Donohue’s angled drive and Elliot Simoes couldn’t react to the rebound.

It was the hosts that continue to look threatening early on and they should have doubled their lead on 12 minutes after Ash Chambers raced clear but dragged his effort narrowly wide with only Allinson to beat.

However, despite that pressure, it was FC United that struck next to level as Banister’s shot was deflected beyond Hall on 20 minutes after the visitors had got in down the left.

Harriers looked to hit back quickly but Weeks saw his free-kick from the edge of the area clawed onto the post by Allinson as the game suddenly became a much more open affair.

Instead it was another deflected effort just past the half hour mark that saw United ahead. This time Banister’s shot from the right flank deflected off Ryan Johnson to wrong foot Hall.

Harriers were giving their visitors too much room in the final third and were soon looking short of ideas in attack as they went in at the break chasing the game.

Harriers continued to struggle to create chances early in the second half as FC United worked hard to shut down any space and hold their advantage.

Banister and Liam Healey both fired over from range for the visitors as the hosts remained frustrated.

Their first chance after the break fell to Chambers after Bradley’s flick-on but the striker’s lofted effort beyond the outrushing Allinson dropped wide of the target.

Kidderminster were handed more impetus up front thanks to the introduction of both Kane Richards and Joe Ironside after the hour mark.

However, it was a FC United change that nearly sealed the game as Jamal Crawford rattled the bar after a low corner reached him 10 yards out. The rebound was somehow scrambled wide as Harriers survived.

Fraser Horsfall saw a goal-bound header hooked clear in the final 10 minutes before Ironside saw two late chances go begging as the hosts failed to find a way back.

MacFarlane’s men will now look to hit back quickly when they go to Guiseley next Saturday.

Harriers: Hall, Vaughan, Austin (Ironside 66), O’Connor (c), Horsfall, Johnson, Weeks (Baxendale 55), Daniels, Bradley, Chambers (Richards 59), Williams.

Unused subs: Taylor, Digie.

FC United: Allison, Senior, Thompson, O’Halloran (c), Lynch, Lonsdale, Healey (Egan 65), Brierley, Simoes (Crawford 70), Donohue, Banister (Limpishi-Bongwamba 83).

Unused subs: Affleck, Perrin.

Att: 1,860.