AFC Telford 0 Kidderminster 1 - Report and pictures

Nick Clayton-Phillips' long range effort had given the Harriers a third minute lead, in a first half that didn't live up the heights of previous Bucks displays this season.

Telford had a good penalty shout waved away in the first period, before going close to an equaliser early in the second half through Darryl Knights.

In the last half hour of the game Telford threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Harriers, but the resilient visiting defence held firm right to the end.

The best chance came two minutes from time, when Darryl Knights snatched at a golden opportunity from two yards out.

A draw would probably have been a fair result, but Telford couldn't find that elusive leveller and drop down to fifth in the National League North.

Gavin Cowan's men were the form side coming into the game, having won five games on the bounce in all competitions.

He opted for two changes, as Andy Wycherley dropped back out of the squad in place of on loan stopper Josef Bursik, with James McQuilkin, signed from Kidderminster in the summer, replacing Jon Royle in the centre of the park.

In contrast the visitors arrived at the New Bucks Head out of sorts, having lost their last three games.

Chairman Colin Gordon recently stepped into the Harriers hot seat, while the club search for a new boss.

He went like for like against Telford's 3-5-2 formation, making two changes himself as youngsters Harry Higginson and Clayton-Phillips were both handed debuts.

The visitors flew out of the traps and stunned the Bucks just three minutes into the game.

After pressuring from the off, Ashley Chambers flicked a ball into the path of on loan West Brom winger Clayton-Phillips, and he galloped forward before lashing an effort past Bursik from 18 yards.

It was a perfect start from Kidderminster, and it could have got better just seconds later however the Bucks keeper was equal to a fierce strike from Chambers.

In a frantic opening ten minutes, Telford then saw a penalty shout waved away by referee Elliott Swallow, who was to become a main figure of the first period

Amari Morgan-Smith clipped a ball over the Harriers back line, and it deflected into the path of Daniel Udoh. He lifted the ball over the bar but was upended by goalkeeper Brandon Hall in the process.

It looked a good shout for a spot kick, but the referee was having none of it and signalled for a corner.

It proved to be the end of Hall's afternoon, as he picked up a heavy knock in the collision and was replaced by young keeper Thomas Palmer after just 12 minutes.

Darryl Knights tested the gloves of the young stopper, after Ellis Deeney had fired over the bar from 18 yards out.

The game certainly had a derby atmosphere about it, and that intensified just before the half hour mark.

Morgan-Smith went down holding his face after an apparent off the ball incident with Harriers defender Josh Heaton, but the referee dismissed any calls for action.

Theo Streete turned a dangerous Clayton-Phillips cross behind, before tempers again flared following another flash point.

Knights went in both late and high on Clayton-Phillips causing a melee involving almost every player on the pitch, but despite calls for a red card the midfielder was only cautioned.

It seemed like a challenge made in frustration more than anything from the former Kidderminster man, after his side had produced an under par first half performance compared to their recent high standards.

Before the half was out the referee was involved in another big decision, with Telford players this time calling for a Kidderminster man to be given his marching orders.

Morgan-Smith flicked the ball past Heaton and was taken down by the defender, who had already been cautioned.

It was a cynical foul and prompted big shouts for a second yellow from the home players and supporters that fell on deaf ears.

It did however present Telford with a chance to nick an equaliser late in the half, but Brendon Daniels, usually deadly from free kicks, could only curl an effort straight at Palmer.

Within four minutes of the re-start, Telford almost did to Kidderminster what the visitors had done to them early in the first half.

The Bucks carved open their opponents down the right side, with Morgan-Smith driving on the box and pulling the ball back for Knights.

The midfielder's powerful effort from the edge of the box looked to be going on target, but it struck his team mate Udoh in the box and cannoned away.

It was a much better start to the half from the home side, who were going in search of a goal that would really open the game up.

McQuilkin saw a long range effort rise inches over the bar, before Kidderminster almost hit the Bucks with a sucker punch on the hour mark.

After soaking up early pressure, the Harriers launched a counter attack and Bursik got down well to palm away Chambers' low effort.

It was a let off for the Bucks, who were huffing and puffing to get an equaliser at the other end, but at times their quality in possession was letting them down.

Cowan made his first change 20 minutes from time, turning to new signing Marcus Dinanga, and it was almost an inspired substitution from the Bucks chief.

Udoh found the substitute seconds after coming on, and he drove down the left before lashing an effort narrowly wide of the post from a narrow angle.

It was all Telford at this point, but they were being frustrated by a resolute Kidderminster back line, and an inspired young goalkeeper.

Palmer pushed away Daniels' dangerous low free kick, with the visitors then throwing bodies in front of the ball in a goal mouth scramble after the keeper had dropped a cross.

The pressure continued to build and Kidderminster nearly cracked two minutes from time.

Another cross from the right was headed back into the mix, Palmer came to punch it but he could only direct the ball to the unmarked Knights.

All the midfielder had to do was hit the target but snatched at the chance that rose over the bar, and it was beginning to feel like one of those days for the Bucks.

They pushed again in stoppage time but the well organised and resolute Harriers back line with stood the pressure and claimed the spoils.

KEY MOMENTS

3 - GOAL - The visitors stun the in form Bucks inside three minutes. After early pressure a ball into Chambers is flicked into the path of Clayton-Phillips. The debutant drives forward, before lashing a ball across Bursik and into the net from 18 yards.

7 - PENALTY CLAIM - Telford have a strong shout for a penalty turned down. Morgan-Smith's clipped ball over the top turns the Harriers defence, and the ball falls into the path of Udoh. He lifts an effort over the bar, and his taken out by goalkeeper Hall in the process, but the ref waves away the penalty shouts.

21 - CHANCE - The ball falls to Knights 18 yards out, and his low drive as Palmer scrambling to his right to push it wide.

34 - RED CARD SHOUT - Knights is lucky to stay on the park after a late tackle on Clayton-Phillips. He clatters into the Kidderminster goalscorer, causing a melee between the two sets of players on the pitch. The situation calms down and Knights is given just a yellow card.

45 - ANOTHER RED CARD SHOUT - This time Telford are the ones calling for a dismissal. Heaton, already on a yellow, commits a cynical foul on Morgan-Smith who beats him to the ball. It is one of those, if he wasn't on a yellow he probably would have been given a card.

49 - CHANCE - Telford spring out of the traps and Morgan-Smith beats the full back and cuts the ball back to Knights on the edge of the area. He lashes an effort goal wards but the effort strikes Udoh.

55 - SAVE - Harriers spring a counter attack and Bursik has to be alert to keep out a low effort from Chambers.

72 - CHANCE - Seconds after coming off the bench, Dinanga goes close to getting his first goal since returning to the New Bucks Head. The forward strides forward down the left, before lashing a ball across the keeper and wide of the post.

88 - GOLDEN CHANCE - A cross is headed up in the air, the goalkeeper punches and the ball falls to Knights who is unmarked eight yards out. But he snatches it and it goes over. Golden chance for the Bucks to snatch a late point.

TEAMS

AFC Telford United (3-5-2) - Bursik, White, Deeney, McQuilkin (Morley 72), Sutton, Streete (Cowans 72), Barnett, Daniels, Morgan-Smith (Dinanga 71), Udoh, Knights

Subs not used - Royle, Brown

Kidderminster Harriers (3-5-2) - Hall (Palmer 12), Vaughan, Higginson, Weeks, Horsfall, Heaton, Austin, Penn (Butterfield 85), Ironside, Chambers (McAlinden 81) , Clayton-Phillips

Subs not used - Butterfield, Stratford, Lowth

Referee - Elliott Swallow

Attendance - 1,714