Kidderminster Harriers 1 Chester 2: Promotion hopes over with sorry defeat
For the second weekend running, Kidderminster Harriers were found wanting at the finish.
Eight days after letting slip the National League North title on the final day, their promotion hopes and season were ended for good by a play-off semi-final defeat to Chester.
Former Harrier Declan Weeks fired in the winner eight minutes from time to settle a frenetic and tight contest at a sold-out Aggborough in favour of the visitors.
Once again, Harriers were left wondering what might have been.
They led early through Kyle Morrison’s goal, only to be pegged back by Dylan Mottley-Henry’s equaliser.
Goalkeeper Christian Dibble then prevented Chester from taking the lead when he saved Kyle Willoughby’s penalty.
But that could not spark Harriers, who struggled for rhythm in attack. In a game of few chances, it was the visitors who asked more questions and through Weeks they got the winner to set up a final at Scunthorpe on May 18.
For Harriers and their manager, Phil Brown, the next fortnight will only be a time for bitter reflection.
Last week’s defeat at Southport, which saw them drop from first to third in the standings, was their first since February.
The play-offs offered a second chance to secure an immediate return to the National League Premier but they were unable to take it. Other than picking Morrison’s 18th minute opener out of the net, visiting goalkeeper Jimmy Storer was rarely troubled.
This was a high energy affair, with little quality, though it was Harriers who were delivering most of the former, urged on by the bulk of the capacity crowd.
Reece Devine on the left wing was getting through plenty of hard work and it was his bustling run which led to the corner from which Harriers took the lead.
David Worrall whipped in the delivery and Morrison arrived to meet it at the far post. From two yards out, he could not miss.
Chester were struggling to get into the game and it was only on the half-hour mark they finally began putting some sustained pressure on the hosts.
It soon paid off. Connor Woods shot from distance and Dibble could only parry as it dipped toward goal, Mottley-Henry turning the rebound into the empty net.
That made both goals simple conversions but otherwise chances were thin on the ground. In stoppage time, fine work from Zak Brown created one but Maz Kouhyar could only stab his pull back wide of the post.
It was the visitors on the front foot at the start of the second half, the diminutive Murray finding space and unleashing a shot from 25 yards out which Dibble tipped over the bar.
Murray was becoming an increasing menace and eight minutes after the restart, won the penalty when he was caught by Morrison. Willoughby stepped up but Dibble guessed correctly, diving to his right to parry the spot-kick away. If there had been any murmurings about the keeper’s culpability for the equaliser, they were forgotten in that moment.
Hemmings lashed a powerful shot wide from distance at the other end but clear cut chances were again at a premium.
Chester sent on Dan Mooney up front and twice in a minute he nearly got in behind. On the first occasion Dibble was quick off his line to clear, the second relieved to see the forward flick the ball past him but wide of the post.
A rare slick move then saw Worrall chip in a cross for Kouhyar but the latter’s header looped wide.
With eight minutes to go came the killer. A cross was cleared only as far as Weeks and from the right-hand side of the box he fired a precise shot beyond Dibble’s dive and just inside the far post.
There was still time, including 10 minutes worth of stoppages. Yet Harriers could not fashion a single chance to level.
Instead it was Dibble who prevented Mooney from putting things beyond doubt when he denied him one-on-one at the death.
Harriers: Dibble, Worrall, McNally, Morrison, Richards, Kandola (Beresford 90+4), Brown, Hemmings, Kouhyar (Reynolds 81), Devine (Davis 55), Morgan-Smith Subs not used: Downing, Bishop, Obadeyi, Hall.
