Match reports from May 2025

Sunday 4 May
Kidderminster Harriers 1 Chester 2
National League North Play-Off Semi-Final
Attendance: 4,647 (1,300 Chester) Half Time: 1-1
Booked: K.Roberts, Storer.

Kidderminster Harriers: Dibble, Richards, Devine (Davis 55), McNally, Worrall (Obadeyi 86), Morgan-Smith, Hemmings, Brown, Kouhyar (Reynolds 81), Morrison, Kandola (Beresford 90+4). Subs not used: Downing, Bishop, Hall.
Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks, Willoughby (Mooney 70), Mottley-Henry (O’Kane 86), Woodthorpe, Leak, Woods, Bainbridge, Murray, K.Roberts. Subs not used: Brown, Hunter, Rawlinson, Lambert, Burgess.
Referee: -.

City extended their season until the Promotion Final with this magnificent victory at Aggborough.

Blues came in to the tie as underdogs but not lacking in confidence after the intense tussle with Buxton on Wednesday. Nor were they lacking in support as their fans travelled in droves to the venue – the complete allocation of 1300 tickets were sold online within half an hour. Included in the number were a fair few Exiles. Their usual pre-match gathering venue at the convivial King & Castle, SVR Station Buffet was restricted to home fans only for the day – but they gathered not too far away at an equally hospitable hostelry. Fuelled by sweet and straw-coloured Black Country ales, Scotch eggs and crusty cobs they joined the throng on the terraces and in the stands urging the teams on for this knock-out tie.

Harriers forced Chester back to defend their box, firing the ball to either wing where their lively and inventive forwards threatened to get behind. They won a couple of corners and, on twenty minutes, took the lead when Kyle Morrison broke from the pack to volley the ball in from short range at the far post.

City responded well to the setback and began to exert a bit more control in the middle of the park. Connor Woods played a one-two with Murray on the edge of the box and fired in a shot to the far post. Dibble parried at full stretch but Dylan Mottley-Henry was on hand to strike for the Blues’ equaliser.

As the half-time break drew near, Harriers fashioned a chance down the left – the ball was pulled back for Kouhyar, in space on the edge of the box. He seemed certain to score but fired narrowly wide. Willoughby retaliated with a run and shot which flew just wide of the post at the other end. After the interval it was Chester’s turn to come forward. Murray unleashed a screamer from distance which Dibble tipped over the bar. City began to dominate for a spell with Bainbridge, Weeks and Murray all exerting a vice-like grip on midfield. Murray was felled from behind in the penalty area by Kandola but Willoughby’s spot kick – hit firmly – was nevertheless saved by Dibble.

The reprieve gave Harriers a new lease of energy and buoyed by a relieved home crowd they took the game to Chester again. But the Blues gradually weathered this storm and came forward again. Connor Woods turned to gee up the Cestrian followers as City scented victory. Weeks nipped in on the edge of the box and fired a first time shot into the corner to send City into Blue Heaven.

The finishing line receded further when ten added minutes were announced – nerves of steel required. Yet, if anything, Chester came closest to scoring again. When the excellent Mooney was set clear by Woods, he saw his shot parried by Dibble but it proved to be the last action of the game and a place in the final was secured.

Blues fans – who had kept the noise up from start to finish – still found voice to sing the praises of their players and the manager Cal McIntyre. The bond between them – though frayed in November after a heavy defeat at Curzon Ashton – restored and strengthened. “Belief never dies” said McIntyre in his notes before Wednesday. Whatever happens in the final against Scunthorpe in a fortnight he has instilled fresh heart and pride in the club from top to bottom.

Colin Mansley

Webmaster

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