Pre-Season Friendly – Saturday, 30th July 2022

Halesowen Town 1 Kidderminster Harriers 4

Under-strength Halesowen were left still seeking their first pre-season home win after losing out 4-1 to National League North second-favourites Kidderminster Harriers, writes David Johnson. Unusually for a pre-season friendly, referee Lewis Mountain dished out a total of five yellow cards.

After the game manager Paul Smith commented “A lot of players were missing and that was crucial, so today’s game was a step too far for us. Three mistakes cost us but it was a good workout for us with many positives to take away.”

Josh Quaynor’s 8th minute free-kick was cleared but Harriers’ strong line-up had the better of the first half - just a week ahead of the start of their league season - and Nathan Lowe’s 13th minute free-kick was saved at the foot of the post by home goalkeeper Dan Whitehouse. Kidderminster soon took the lead when Nathaniel KNIGHT-PERCIVAL headed home directly from Ashley Hemmings’ 14th minute corner. Whitehouse made another good save with his legs in the 31st minute after Tom Owen-Evans was put clear on goal.

Two minutes after the interval LOWE smashed home from 25 yards off the underside of the bar to double Kidderminster’s lead. The Yeltz then missed a great 54th minute chance when captain Kieran Morris nodded Quaynor’s corner back across goal for Nathan Hayward, but he headed wide in front of goal. Substitute Jamie Insall then fired wide in the 72nd minute before substitute Richard GREGORY lifted the ball over Kiddy goalkeeper Tom Palmer from 20 yards to reduce the arrears after 74 minutes.

Whitehouse saved at the end of a good run from Harriers’ substitute Kai Lissimore in the 79th minute but the visitors then added two late goals in simple fashion. Dexter Dudley-Toole’s 80th minute error left two opposition players all alone on goal and substitute Gabby Rogers played a simple pass for substitute Zak BROWN to tap home. Gregory curled an 82nd minute free-kick wide for the Yeltz but Kidderminster made it 4-1 in the final minute when substitute Jack TOLLEY nipped in to beat the advancing Whitehouse following Josh Ezewele’s mistake.

Halesowen Town: Dan Whitehouse; Josh Ezewele, Josh Quaynor, Trialist, Kieran Morris (c) (Max Morris 62), Dexter Dudley-Toole, Brad Birch, Nathan Hayward, Matt Funge (Richard Gregory HT), Richard Smith (Jamie Insall HT), Bailey Fuller (Simeon Cobourne HT). Unused Sub: Papy Brandon Mossini.

Kidderminster Harriers: Tom Palmer; Caleb Richards, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Kristian Pearce, Tom Owen-Evans, Nathan Lowe (Kai Lissimore 71), Ashley Hemmings (Gabby Rogers 66), Yusifu Ceesay (Jack Tolley 60), Trialist A (Luke Bastable 88), Keziah Martin (Zak Brown 60), Ethan Freemantle (Shane Byrne 60). Unused Subs: Tom Leak, Jamie Emery.

Attendance: 823

Booked: Hemmings (26), Insall (69), Lowe (70), Trialist A (82), Palmer (83).