BOLDMERE 1 HARRIERS 6

TRIALISTS took the spotlight as Kidderminster Harriers displayed plenty of promise in a 6-1 thrashing of non-league Boldmere St Michaels.

The opposition may have only been from the Midland Alliance but some of the football on display from Harriers was certainly impressive.

All the goals, bar an early mistake from Boldmere defender John Price, were scored by players bidding to earn contracts at Aggborough.

John Williams's first-half double, bringing his pre-season tally to three, suggested he could still offer Harriers something this season at the age of 35.

And among other eye-catching performances was that of left-sided Narada whose crossing in particular was a joy to behold.

With only several minutes gone, the ex-Arsenal U-19s and Bournemouth player tempted defender Price to divert the ball past his own keeper.

A comfortable-looking Harriers added a second on 26 minutes with Narada's cross picking out Williams at the far post for a simple header.

The veteran front man doubled his tally two minutes later, prodding the ball past keeper Knight in a move started by Sean Flynn.

Harriers, who had started with a 3-5-2 formation, made eight changes at half-time with only keeper Stuart Brock and trialist Adam Willis playing the full 90 minutes.

Willis, formerly of Swindon, looked a solid central defender and a good communicator in the middle of the back three.

Graham Ward headed against the bar seven minutes into the second half from an Eliot Paschalis cross before a surprise Boldmere consolation.

Brock was beaten to a long ball by Kevin Roberts 20 yards from goal on 57 minutes and the forward tapped home gleefully into an empty net.

It was Paschalis's turn to hit the woodwork on the hour with a low drive before the experienced Kyle Lightbourne, on as substitute, marked his first game with a goal.

Sam Shilton sent over a fine centre from the left and Lightbourne leapt high to bury a thumping 77th-minute header.

A minute later, Mark Danks provided midfielder Craig Wilding with a fifth goal, poked under the advancing keeper from close range.

And the skillful Danks wrapped up the scoring five minutes from time with a firm bottom-corner finish from the edge of the box.

There had earlier been an injury scare close to half-time when summer signing Matt Gadsby had to hobble off with a twisted knee.

HARRIERS: Brock; Gadsby (Hinton 43), Willis, Stamps (Ayres 46); Coleman (Paschalis 46), Bennett (Wilding 46), D Williams (Parrish 46), Flynn (Ward 46), Narada (Shilton 46); J Williams (Danks 46), Lewis (Lightbourne 46).