Harriers 4, Nuneaton 1

STRIKER Ashley Chambers ended a three-month goal drought in spectacular fashion as his hat-trick downed bottom-placed Nuneaton Borough.

The treble from Chambers and a penalty from fellow former Nuneaton man Joe Ironside saw Harries edge closer to the National League North play-off places.

Harriers, who named the same side that beat Ashton on Tuesday night, were quickly out the blocks at Aggborough.

It took the hosts just a minute to work the first effort of the afternoon as midfielder Billy Daniels drilled narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

Nuneaton attacker Josh Lundstram tested Brandon Hall from range on seven minutes but it was Reds that were still on the front foot.

Ed Williams rattled the bar from 23 yards a minute later before Liam McAlinden had another long-range effort gathered by keeper Cameron Belford.

Borough continued to pose a threat from deep balls and long throws into the box.

They nearly broke the deadlock on 21 minutes when Rhys Sharpe’s long throw reached Taylor Allen at the far post. He couldn’t make the telling touch on the stretch and Hall was able to gather.

Harriers did find the opener on 26 minutes when Ash Chambers volleyed home Ed Williams’ cross from the right flank to register against his former club.

The hosts thought they’d bagged a second just after the half hour mark but Joe Ironside’s close range finish was ruled out for offside after more neat built up play by Ed Williams just inside the area.

Instead it was Nuneaton that struck against the run of play when Michael Townsend forced home Taylor Allen’s corner to the far post. The chance came after Hall had initially turned behind Allen’s dipping free-kick from range.

The home side reacted well to the set-back and quickly chalked up a host of chances.

McAlinden first blazed over after Chambers had broke in behind the backline a minute before the break.

Chambers was then twice denied on the stroke of half time as more openings went begging. He saw another volley blocked at close range after good work by Ironside before having a header clawed out by Belfort as they clash remained all square.

Harriers wasted no time in forging ahead at the start of the second half as Chambers saw his effort blocked by the arm of Townsend in the box after just two minutes.

Fellow former Borough hitman Ironside stepped up to dispatch the penalty beyond Belford to restore Kidderminster’s advantage.

Ironside was then denied brilliantly by Belford just before the hour mark as the keeper pushed away his goal-bound strike from Joel Taylor’s low cross from the left.

The clash remained in the balance as Nuneaton continued to battle.

Harriers enjoyed more possession but it took until the 70th minute until the worked another save when Williams forced Belford to tip over his effort from just inside the area.

However, the home side secured the win when Chambers bagged his second on 78 minutes.

He was on hand to tap home McAlinden’s teasing left wing cross to give his side breathing room in the final ten minutes.

Chambers wrapped up the game and his hat-trick when he fired home after latching onto a loose ball in the final minute.

The win lifted the Reds up to eighth ahead of next Saturday’s trip to leaders Chorley.

Harriers: Hall, Austin, Taylor, Penn (Richards 89), Horsfall (c), Johnson, McAlinden, Daniels, Ironside, Chambers (Taylor-Randle (90), Williams (Butterfield 82).

Unused subs: Higginson, Heaton.

Nuneaton: C Belford, Obeng, Sharpe, Townsend, Addison, Calveley (Birch 72), Evans (Baxendale 68), Lussey, Edmunds, Lundstram, Allen (Morrison 83).

Unused subs: T Belford, Nabay.

Att: 1,539 (53).