Kidderminster Harriers 1 York City 2

Kidderminster Harriers’ bid to regain a National League North play-off spot was dented by a 2-1 home defeat against York City.

It was a disappointing result for boss Mark Yates who had been hoping for a second successive victory following his recent return to the Aggborough ‘hot-seat’.

The Minstermen pocketed the points with spectacular goals from Kallum Griffiths and Scott Burgess.

Sandwiched between their super strikes was an equaliser by Joe Ironside who was on loan at Bootham Crescent between November and January when he failed to find the net in ten appearances.

Kidderminster, who won 3-0 in a league match at York in September but then lost 3-1 at home to them in the FA Trophy third qualifying round in November, made one change from the side which secured a 4-1 victory over Chester FC at Aggborough the previous Saturday.

Midfielder Declan Weeks was ruled out due to a knee injury and replaced by Billy Daniels who returned to action after being on the casualty list since Boxing Day.

The visitors were quick out of the blocks and produced their first shot on target inside the opening couple of minutes when Alex Kempster’s effort went straight into the arms of well positioned goalkeeper Brandon Hall.

Harriers soon responded with a crisp shot from the edge of the area by Nick Clayton-Phillips which was well pushed away low down by former Aggborough goalkeeper Adam Bartlett for an unproductive corner.

A minute later Bartlett had to deal with a prodded effort from Liam McAlinden while at the other end the alert Hall did well to push away a long range deflected shot from Scott Burgess.

Harriers were forced to make a change on 22 minutes when substitute Kane Richards, back after suspension, took over from injured former York campaigner Ashley Chambers.

Just before the half hour mark a neat build up by the visitors resulted in a teasing cross by David Ferguson being headed wide by Jordan Burrow.

York, however, were bang on target after 31 minutes when full-back Griffiths cut in from the touchline and pulled the trigger on an angled pile-driver which whizzed past Hall and into the net from 20 yards.

Kidderminster continued to find it difficult to manufacture a clear-cut way through the visitors rear-guard in the second half which was nine minutes old when Bartlett was called on the cut out a dangerous low cross-shot from Joel Taylor.

Shortly afterwards Griffiths went close to grabbing another goal with a snap left footed shot which went narrowly wide.

Harriers substitute Ed Williams tried to add to his 12 goals this season with a shot which brought Bartlett to his knees to pull off the save.

Yates’ men finally equalised on 76 minutes when Ironside steered the ball past Bartlett from close range following a defence-splitting free kick by McAlinden.

York wrapped up the points in the 83rd minute when Burgess volleyed in a spectacular shot past Hall from 20 yards.