Deeping Rangers 2 Kidderminster Harriers 4 - Report

Deeping Rangers, of the United Counties League Premier Division, had only previously reached this stage of the competition twice before and were content that the biggest match in their history brought a new attendance record of 696 to the Haydon Whitham Stadium.

The three league difference certainly told in the first half where Harriers bossed possession, they created numerous opportunities but found the home defence resolute.

Harriers gradually wore down the opposition and on 34 minutes Andre Brown eased any nerves, the young striker collecting Joe Ironside’s flick before firing a rising drive into the top left corner of the net.

Declan Weekes and Sam Austin went close to adding to that strike with efforts of their own before Harriers extended their lead five minutes before the break.

Mani Sonupe sprinted onto Fraser Horsfall’s long ball and calmly lifted it over the advancing Danny Bircham to double the lead, despite the attempts of Jonny Clay to keep the ball out.

The game was effectively over on 43 minutes, Sonupe was sent sprawling from Charlie Ward’s challenge and the young striker coolly slotted home the resultant penalty.

Deeping gave themselves hope when Scott Mooney got the slightest deflection to Dan Schiavi’s left wing corner on 53 minutes but Harriers were not to be phased.

With twenty minutes left Andre Wright was set free by Brown and he finished with a right footed drive inside Bircham’s right hand post.

Thirteen minutes from time Harriers failed to deal with another set piece and Mooney dived goalwards to convert Charlie Ward’s downward header from Jonny Clay’s freekick.

Deeping’s next attack should have brought a third goal, but Mooney and Scott Coupland got in each others path before the latter screwed his strike over the bar.

Andre Brown and Mani Sonupe had late chances to put more distance between the two sides but on each occasion Bircham proved equal to their efforts.

Teams

Deeping Rangers: Bircham, Flack (Simpson 82), Smith, Burton-Jones, Ward, Clay, Kilbride (Hunnings 48), Coulson (Owen 27), Schiavi, Mooney, Coupland. Subs Not Used: Marsden, Hockin, Walmsley, Avis.

Harriers: Hall, Williams, Horsfall, Pearson, Taylor, Weeks, Ngwatala (Longbottom 75), Ironside (Wright 55), Sonupe, Austin (Finch 65), Brown. Subs Not Used: Bannister, Digie, Webb.