Gloucester 1

Harriers 5

Mat Kendrick reports

from Meadow Park

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers produced a five-star performance to kick off their pre-season programme of friendlies with a comfortable 5-1 win at Gloucester City.

It was a Harriers of two halves at Meadow Park as boss Mark Yates used 22 players during a one-sided clash against their Southern League Premier League hosts.

Russ Penn, Simon Russell, Scott Eaton, Brian Smikle and Luke Reynolds got the goals as new-look Kidderminster showed exciting glimpses of their potential.

Michael McGrath was the shining light in the first half with a composed performance down the left packed with pace and quality.

The way he retained possession and always made space for himself suggests he will be a genuine rival for Michael Blackwood's left wing berth this term.

Penn was another outstanding member of first half Harriers, hitting the opening goal and producing a typically tenacious display.

It was a midfielder and a winger who stole the show in the second half too with new engine room dynamo Jamie McClen and triallist wideman Smikle both sparkling.

McClen always made himself available for a pass in the centre of the park and kept the ball moving by choosing the simple option.

Smikle was the pick of the triallists with a series of lively raids down the right and capped a promising 45 minutes with the fourth goal.

Youngsters Mark Preece, Jordan Fitzpatrick and Ashley Edkins were solid but unspectacular at centre half, central midfield and right back, while attacking midfielder Stuart Sinclair was impressive in patches.

Striker Scott Eaton scored the third goal and showed willing and some neat touches but was all too easily muscled off the ball.

His fellow former Harriers youth team member, centre half Ashley Walker, coped comfortably enough with the limited threat that the toothless Tigers could muster.

Jonny Harkness was the only one to play longer than 45 minutes, highlighting the lack of full back options which saw Gavin Hurren fill in on the right and the left.

Between the sticks, Steve Taylor had little chance with Gloucester's goal, but did the basics well, while Scott Bevan made a nervy start and had to get himself out of trouble after an air kick nearly let the Tigers in.

The rout started in the third minute when Andy White cut the ball back for Penn who fired a first time bullet past Matt Bath from 12 yards.

White was the creator again four minutes later when he showed close control on the edge of the box before slipping in a perfect pass for Russell to fire in an emphatic finish.

The Tigers pulled a goal back on 13 minutes when Tom Webb crossed from the left and Luke Corbett planted in an unstoppable header.

Harriers made it 3-1 on 38 minutes when Preece attacked a Jonny Harkness corner and the ball dropped for Eaton to stab home from close range.

After the break it was even more comfortable as Harriers pinned Gloucester in their own half.

Reynolds made an instant impression creating a simple tap-in for Smikle on 50 minutes before the ex-Albion winger returned the favour by teeing up the striker for an easy finish from point-blank range.

Harriers (1st half): Steve Taylor, Ashley Edkins, Jonny Harkness, Stuart Whitehead, Mark Preece, Simon Russell, Michael McGrath, Russ Penn, Jordan Fitzpatrick, Scott Eaton, Andy White.

Harriers (2nd half): Scott Bevan, Gavin Hurren, Harkness (Dean Sturridge 66), Mark Creighton, Ashley Walker, Brian Smikle, Michael Blackwood, Jamie McClen, Jake Sedgemore, Stuart Sinclair, Luke Reynolds.