Express & Star

Harriers 1 West Brom 2 - Report and pictures

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Saido Berahino reminded his suitors of his predatory talent with two goals against Kidderminster Harriers in a pre-season friendly.

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The 22-year-old rejected a new four-year deal with the Baggies at the start of the week.

Then, on Saturday, he finished a one-on-one in the first half before dinking a second over a trialist goalkeeper after half-time.

Crysta l Palace and Stoke are both trying to lure the striker away from The Hawthorns, and on this showing, it's understandable why.

It was a comfortable win for the Baggies in front of more than 3,000 fans at Aggborough, but Harriers, who play five divisions below Albion in National League North, can be proud of their contribution.

The home side had plenty of possession and nine minutes from time one of their trialists converted a penalty after Jonathan Leko bundled over another trialist in the box.

In fact, Harriers manager John Eustace used the game to look at plenty of new faces and rang several changes.

Baggies head coach Tony Pulis on the other hand, wanted his players to get 90 minutes under their belt.

There were impressive performances from Jack Fitzwater and Sam Field in defence as both 18-year-old's completed their second full game for Pulis in the space of four days.

Albion skipper Darren Fletcher lost possession straight from kick-off and that signalled a sluggish start from the visitors as Harriers pinned them back in their own half.

Matt Phillips managed to escape down the right-hand side and force a covering block with his shot, but the Premier League side were losing the ball far too easily in midfield.

James McQuilkin had Harriers' first real attempt on goal eight minutes in but then they nearly gifted the visitors an undeserved lead when they passed the ball straight to Berahino in the box.

The 22-year-old shot straight at Sam Hornby in the Harriers goal, but he made no mistake in the 17th minute when Salomon Rondon clipped a ball over the top to leave him one-on-one with the keeper.

It was a slick passing move started by the impressive Sam Field, who was playing out of position at left-back, that sliced through the Harriers team and gave the want-away striker an easy finish.

The goal settled Albion's nerves and they took control of the ball after that, as Fletcher started to open the pitch up with his pin-point, long-range passing.

But Harriers still threatened, and it was only the official's flag that saved the Baggies just before the half-hour when Arthur Gnahoua was slipped through by Zaine Francis-Angol's clever reverse ball.

A couple of minutes later Eton Ngwatala volleyed just over from a narrow angle.

Rondon blazed a couple of speculative efforts over the bar and Phillips found the side-netting with a near-post flick from a corner before Berahino nearly added a second with a header.

But the National League North side were hardly embarrassing themselves, and enjoyed plenty of possession as the first half drew to a close.

Eustace's team worked a couple of openings early in the second half too, but failed to test Ben Foster's reactions.

Down the other end, a neat one-two between Berahino and Rondon sent the smaller of the two through on goal but he screwed his shot a foot wide.

Craig Dawson, who partnered 18-year-old Jack Fitzwater in the centre of defence, put a header wide from a corner before the busy McQuilkin dragged an effort wide.

In the 58th minute Berahino added his second with a finish of sheer class after Ashley Carter inadvertently gave Albion the ball.

A couple of step-overs left his defender for dead before a lifted finish over the trialist keeper doubled Albion's lead and his tally for the day.

Harriers boss John Eustace, who played under Pulis at Stoke, then made seven changes to his side and threw on four more trialists.

Phillips nearly scored his first goal for the club 15 minutes before the end but Kidderminster's keeper pushed his curling effort destined for the bottom corner around the post.

Sam Austin almost halved the deficit five minutes later when he rattled the post, but the Harriers got a goal nine minutes from time when Leko was pulled up for a foul in the area.

It was a soft decision, but nothing more than the home side deserved.

Elsewhere, an Albion XI captained by James Morrison and featuring Boaz Myhill, Sebastien Pocognoli, Rickie Lambert, and Callum McManaman played a simultaneous game at Stafford Rangers.

The Baggies won 2-1 thanks to goals from Rickie Lambert and Andre Wright.

Harriers: Hornby (gk) (Trialist 45), Williams (Smith 80), Francis-Angol (Hancocks 59), Lowe (Tunnicliffe 59), Carter (Taylor 80), Fane (Forsyth 69), McQuilkin (Trialist 59), Ngwatala, Gnahoua (Trialist 59), Trialist (Austin 59), Brown.

Albion (4-4-2): Foster (gk); Gardner, Dawson, Fitzwater, Field; Phillips, Fletcher (c), Yacob, Leko; Berahino, Rondon. Unused subs: Palmer (gk), Elbouzedi, Smith, Sweeney, McCourt.

Attendance: 3,301