A first-minute goal from Olly Dyson and a brace from in-form Glen Taylor were enough to see off the play-off chasing Kidderminster Harriers and give Moors a fourth league victory in a row.
Dyson found the net in under 60 seconds as his header found the back of the net, before Taylor snagged Moors’ second via a second half penalty kick to set-up a productive afternoon in Worcestershire.
The Harriers got one back courtesy of a deflection from an Ashley Hemmings strike which ruffled some feathers on the pitch, but it was that man again, Taylor, who killed the game with a dink in added time.
Moors couldn’t have had a better start, as Graeme Lee’s men opened the scoring within the opening minute. Matty Dolan steered a freekick from the right side of the penalty area into the congregation in the box, where Dyson was there to divert the ball goalwards and into the back of Christian Dibble’s net, stunning the home crowd.
The goal scorer looked to turn provider just seven minutes later, as he almost set Corey McKeown away with a teasing ball in behind. However, Dibble was alert to the situation and did well to claim.
Taylor saw a half chance go begging as his strike from an uncomfortable position soared up and into the scoreboard above the stand.
Kidderminster saw plenty of the ball in the opening quarter of an hour, but it must be said that they just couldn’t create anything from their possession.
Moors continued to grind out chances as Taylor almost found the net on the 16th minute. The frontman turned on his man and struck a powerful effort on goal, however his shot floated just over the bar, nestling in the roof of the net.
The Harriers weren’t content in letting Moors get on top as the half developed, as they began to come forward with real menace. Some smart play from the hosts saw them get into strong positions on the edge of the box.
However, some brilliant defending defied them of real attempts on goal through three separate occasions courtesy of brilliant blocks from members of the backline.
The game seemed to level out for a period, as both sides struggled to get any real grasp on the play. Half chances came and went for both, with Dyson almost breaking through down the right, before Reiss McNally’s strike flew well wide of the mark at the other end.
Phil Brown’s men had their best chance of the first half as they worked the ball into the box from the right. The captain Hemmings held the ball up well inside the 18-yard box before laying it off to Zac Brown who let fly from the edge. His curling effort fell just inches wide of the post.
Moors won a freekick at the other end in an almost identical position to the one that Dyson converted in the earlier stages. Dolan whipped a ball in towards the back post, floating just wide of the mark having missed everyone on the way through.
The hosts had a chance to grab an equaliser in the dying minutes of the first half soon after, a ball in from Zak Brown was almost diverted in by Hemmings as he got a touch at the front post, only for it to pass just wide.
Phil Brown will have no doubt had a stern talking to with his team at halftime, hoping to drag his players into the game for the second 45.
Whatever he said clearly didn’t work as Moors claimed a penalty just five minutes in. McKeown received the ball just inside the area, where he was felled by a Harriers man right in front of the referee, giving him no option but to give it. Taylor stepped up to take it and, to no one’s surprise, the captain thumped it into the bottom corner.
Hemmings was yet again involved as his header flew wide of the post as the pressure really began to build on the away outfit, but Lee’s men stood resolute in the face of the Harriers aggression, defending brilliantly to preserve the two-goal deficit.
Despite Moors best efforts, the goal that the hosts had been begging for since they went 2-0 down, finally arrived. It was that man, Hemmings, who won the ball back on the edge before dispatching a strong effort on goal, which took a deflection on the way in, that fired past James, who was unable to react.
Kidderminster really began to pressure the Moors backline, and it could’ve been 2-2 within minutes of their first if it hadn’t had been for a heroic headered clearance at the back post from Michael Ledger, keeping the scores level.
Junior Mondal almost secured the three points for Moors in the 86th minute as he looked to tap home a parried ball from Dibble after good work from fellow substitute Mitch Hancox, but the set up for his shot was an awkward one and the substitute couldn’t find the net.
Lee’s men weren’t done yet, as Ramshaw broke free into a one on one with Dibble, who produced a strong save to deny the number 10 a goal.
Before anyone could come to terms with what just happened, Taylor managed to get the ball at his feet in the area, lifting a clever finish over Dibble who’d come out to claim, sending the 34 Moors faithful who’d made the long journey into raptures.
A fantastic away win for Moors, who handed Kidderminster their third league loss in a row at Aggborough Stadium. Moors now look onto Tuesday, as they look to carry the momentum on to the monster FA Trophy quarter-final in a week’s time.
Full Time: Kidderminster Harriers 1 Moors 3
Moors: James, Ledger, Beals, Rowe, Staunton, Dolan (Shrimpton 66), Ross, Dyson (Hancox), Ramshaw, McKeown (Mondal 66), Taylor
Subs not used: Pollock, Rutledge
Booked: Staunton (87), Mondal (90)
Kidderminster Harriers: Dibble, McNally, Kandola (Downing 53), Robinson, Richards, Kellerman (Reynolds 33), Brown, Devine, Thompson (Lutz 65), Hemmings, Obadeyi (Morgan-Smith 53).
Subs not used: Palmer.
Booked: Kandola (38), Brown (73), McNally (84), Devine (90)
Referee: Neil Pratt
Attendance: 2,234 (34 Away)
Written by: Noah Betts
Photo Credit: Kidderminster Harriers FC
