Swifts 1
Harriers 4

TRIALISTS gave Harriers manager Mark Yates food for thought as Harriers comfortably overcame Swifts at Walshes Meadow on Tuesday night.

With Yates set to make his mind up about a number of hopefuls this week, this was the last chance many would have to impress the Aggborough outfit's management team.

A nearly full-strength side in the first half looked comfortable throughout, while a much changed team packed with hopefuls were given a good workout by Harriers' Worcestershire neigthbours.

Notably former Harriers goal-machine Lee Hughes, who has been training with the club this summer, was given a chance to sharpen his fitness after being picked alongside alongside Matthew Barnes-Homer and Darryl Knights.

The 33-year-old is wanted by a number of clubs, including Notts County and Sheffield Wednesday buthe demonstrated the touches that Harriers fans would gladly see back at Aggborough.

Harriers carved out their first chance in the fourth minute, when Swifts failed to clear a corner and Chris McPhee saw his shot pushed behind by keeper Paul Evans.

Dean Bennett flashed a low drive from the edge of the box wide as the visitors stepped it up a gear.

Darryl Knights drove forward and flashed a shot just off target as Harriers' class started to show.

Brian Smikle stung Evans' palms with a confident volley in the ninth minute after a classy passing move created by Hughes and Knights.

From the resulting corner, defender Martin Riley saw a volley fly over the bar.

The home side alleviated some pressure in the 14th minute when they won a corner but Jamie Price's short delivery was easily defended by Harriers.

But a counter-attack from a Swifts corner led to Harriers' opening goal in the 21st minute.

Barnes-Homer sped down the left wing and a clever pass slipped Smikle free. The winger's low cross took a slight deflection but Bennett rifled a low shot into the bottom left corner.

Minutes later Knights pounced on a poor clearance by Evans but his delicate lob was a fraction over the bar.

Hughes showed some classy touches and almost created a chance with a fine cross from the left that was a fraction too for Barnes-Homer in the 25th minute.

Swifts worked hard to try and push back the away side but the pace of Barnes-Homer constantly worried the home defence and he saw a decent chance go begging on the half hour mark when he directed a shot across the face of goal.

Hughes came close in the 33rd minute when he stooped to meet trialist Joe Wilcox's cross from the right but defender Ben Pattison cleared the ball behind.

Bennett was left gingerly limping after a clumsy two-footed challenge by Wesley Joyce but the midfielder shook off the effects to continue to play.

New signing McPhee made it 2-0 in the 38th minute with a firm rifled shot into Evans' bottom left corner.

Hughes was denied a goal in the 40th minute by a double block by Evans, after the keeper had parried Lee Baker's fierce 20-yard drive.

Both team made a host of changes for the second half and the first chance fell to Price but his effort was straight at Harriers keeper Dean Coleman.

Substitute Aaron Farrell made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute after confusion in Swifts' box.

Kyle Hadley looked keen to impress Harriers' management and a surging run down the right forced a 62nd minute corner.

Another tricky run by the winger saw deliver a low cross which former Woking and Aldershot man Rob Elvins met with an overhead kick to make it 4-0.

The goal settled Harriers down and David McDermott shot wide from eight yards out after good build-up play by Hadley and Nathan Hayward.

Swifts tried to test Harriers' goal but Nick Clayton shot at substitute keeper Rob Holmes.

The impressive Hadley almost set up a fifth goal in the 82nd minute but Elvins just missed his raking low cross.

Swifts pulled back a consolation goal when captain Andy Jones nodded in from a corner in the 84th minute.

Now the trialists will he hoping they have done enough for the manager to keep them at the club a bit longer.

Harriers (first half):. Dean Coleman; Joe Wilcox; Duane Courtney; Martin Riley; Lee Baker; Dean Bennett; Chris McPhee; Brian Smikle; Darryl Knights; Lee Hughes; Matthew Barnes-Homer.

Harriers (second half): Dean Coleman (Rob Holmes, 68); Wilcox (RB) (Damian Jarrett, 57); Jordan Street (CB); Tom Sharpe (CB); Zac Costello (RB); Gavin Strachan (CB); Nathan Hayward (CM); Kyle Hadley (RM); David McDermott (LM); Aaron Farrell (F); Rob Elvins (F).

Swifts: Paul Evans; Ben Pattison; Richard Tomkins; Jamie Price; Nathan Jukes; Andy Jones; Alex Lavery; Lewis Fathers; Wes Joyce; Luke Whittington; Will Gayton. Used substitutes: Mark Benbow; Steve Towers; Nick Clayton; Jamie Insall; Matt Smith.