Redditch 1
Harriers 3

YOUTHFUL Harriers enjoyed a good workout as they returned from the Valley Stadium with a friendly win on Tuesday night.

A Harriers side packed with young trialists did their chances of earning a deal at the club no harm with a deserved win.

In fact, only two first team squad members started at Redditch, with Kyle Hadley on the wing and Andy Stevens in goal.

Notably, wantaway defender Gavin Caines was listed as substitute but was not present at the ground.

Harriers were given the first chance to score when Redditch conceded a free-kick in the eighth minute but former Bolton and Wrexham man Nathan Woolfe's left-footed effort curled wide.

A strong Redditch side were struggling to threaten Harriers but Andy Jones and Marlon Walters looked solid and well-drilled in central defence.

Pat Sayce almost opened the scoring in the 22nd minute for the away side. Redditch cleared a Kyle Hadley cross and the former Bristol City youth teamer saw a dipping 20-yard effort fly just over the bar.

But United's resistance was broken two minutes later. Their defence parted too easily as Hadley cut in from the right, drove into the box and fired in a low effort that slipped under keeper Jake Meredith.

The hosts rallied and created two chances, Danny Campbell's shot was blocked, while midfielder Luke Keen's low effort from the edge of the box was well-held by Harriers shot-stopper Andy Stevens.

Reds boss Matt Gardiner had to make a change in the 35th minute when the injured Will Gayton was replaced by Dexter Ravenhill.

United keeper Meredith was called into action in the 39th minute when Hadley was fouled by Walters. Young Spanish winger Ruben Bover-Izquievdo's free-kick was well-held by the custodian.

Harriers made a host of substitutions at half-time, which disrupted play.

The away side were down to 10 men when Curtis Wynter limped off injured minutes after coming on as a subsitute. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Sayce slotted the ball past Meredith to score in the 59th minute.

But United substitute Danny Scheppel pulled a goal back a minute later, when his long range effort deflected off a Harriers defender.

The home side stepped it up and Ravenhill saw his shot hit the bar.

But substitute Jordan Grandison stunned the improving team with Harriers' third goal in the 67th minute. Dominic Morrell sped down the left and squared the ball to the trialist, who fired home.

It was also a winning return for Harriers assistant boss Gary Whild, who left Redditch at the end of last season.

Harriers: Stevens; McCone; Griffiths (Mansell, 46); Hull; Eze (?, 46); Sayce; Hadley (Grandison, 46); Woolfe; Morrell; Thompson-Brown; Bover-Izquievdo (Wynter, 54).

Unused substitutes: Lewis.

Redditch: Meredith (Turner); Moran (Jukes, 75); Quaynor; Keen (Scheppell, 53); Jones; Walters (Smith, 60); Cornes (Insall, 60, (Gayton, 81)); Fitzpartrick; Adaggio (Moore, 69); Campbell; Gayton (Ravenhill, 35).