Chorley 3 Kidderminster Harriers 0
Kidderminster Harriers fell to a defeat as the hopes of Chorley’s automatic promotion to the Nattional League received a boost with a return to the top of the tale as Stockport County lost at Brackley.
The home side relinquished top-spot in midweek to Stockport County following a run of three defeats in six games and needed a repeat performance when they trounced Harriers 4-0 at Aggborough in November.
The home side were quickly out of the traps, the early play presented the Magpies strike force with opportunities to net an opening goal, Marcus Carver denied by an alert Brandon Hall diving to his right.
On three minutes Chorley opened the scoring, a long ball out of defence dropped into the path of Josh Wilson and he had time to draw Hall from his goal before calmly side-footing it inside the keeper’s right hand upright.
Harriers responded as Matt Urwin went down to save from Liam McAlinden and again to keep out an effort from Sam Austin.
Chorley always looked dangerous on the break, Alex Newby and Carver went close to doubling the advantage with their efforts but it was Scott Leather who was left holding his head in disbelief five minutes before the break.
Leather got on the end of Adam Blakeman’s right wing corner only to see his header parried away by the diving Hall, the rebound looped up and Leather responded first only to see Hall’s acrobatics keep the effort out of the goal.
On the stroke of half time, Marcus Carver looked set to net as Josh Wilson’s neat header back across goal left Hall stranded, but Fraser Horsfall was on hand to clear the ball off Carver’s chest to give the visitors hope of a stronger second period.
Hall was quickly into action to parry away Elliot Newby’s goalbound strike, but two goals in six minutes put paid to Harriers hopes.
On the hour Carver released Matt Challoner and his right wing cross was steered home by Wilson for his second of the game.
Carver himself made sure of the points that returned Chorley to the top of the table crashing a drive via the underside of the bar as another ball over the top caught Harriers cold.
TEAMS
Chorley: Urwin, Challoner, Blakeman, Teague, Leather (Hooper 77), Meppen-Walters, A.Newby, Cottrell, Carver (Anson 78), Wilson (McGurk 70), E.Newby: Subs Not Used: Almond, Jordan.
Kidderminster Harriers: Hall, Austin, Taylor, Horsfall, Johnson, Penn, Daniels, Chambers (Heaton 90), Ironside (Richards 70), McAlinden, Williams (Butterfield 66) . Subs Not Used: Higginson, Palmer.
