Match Report by Matt Wall - stats provided by the Press Association. Pics - Stefan Rapacz.
Chris McPhee's second half goal was all it took to settle the battle of Worcestershire as Harriers edged a typical derby affair to record a 1-0 win at St. George's Lane to book a place in the quarter finals of the FA Trophy.
Within three minutes of the game the tone was well and truly set for the night - just after John Finnigan had been given a talking to for an early crunching challenge, the galloping Lee Baker had Worcester hearts in mouths as he strode forward towards the City goal. The Harriers man unleashed a 20 yard drive that had Jake Meredith well beaten on its way just wide.
It was City's turn to show some early danger just eight minutes in - turning in the area hit a superb half volley that beat the outstretched palm of Jas Singh before thumping off the post and out to safety.
A neat counter move on 16 almost saw Harriers unlock what was settling into a scrappy affair, a three-player move saw Damian Spencer and Brian Smikle combine to set up Aaron Farrell who lashed wide on the volley from inside the area.
Just four minutes later it was back at the other end with the hosts - super work from Alfie Carter saw the ball threaded through the eye of a needle to ex-Harrier Rob Davies who could only drive his shot from three yards straight at Singh.
Three after the half hour mark it was the home side again in amongst the chances - after Rob Elvins' effort had been blocked on the edge of the area, the ball came back out to Davies who lashed at it from 25 yards, sending it fizzing wide of the upright.
Five before the break the balance was swinging again - a Harriers corner saw Martin Riley head down well from a corner to Smikle who hit wide from ten yards.
Harriers looked to set about City within five minutes of the re-start and it almost paid off when a neat corner was floated into the most dangerous of areas - an unmarked Chris McPhee rose well and got contact on it but the ball sailed just over.
The hosts did everything right in this game up until the eighth minute of the second half when the most basic of errors cost them dearly - a quickly-taken free-kick caught everyone off guard and the ball was played to Finnigan who dinked a beautiful cross into the six-yard box to McPhee who ghosted in to slot home to the delight of the hundreds of Harriers fans.
City's direct approach almost got them back level on the hour mark - a hopeful ball forward found Marco Addagio unmarked and through on Singh's goal. Already on a booking, the stopper didn't dare rush out and so the front man looked to finish but could only lift the ball some way over the top of the bar.
Three minutes after coming on as a 68th minute sub, Kyle Hadley had a chance to make it 2-0 after Meredith found himself in no man's land outside the area. After blocking Smikle's shot into Hadley's path, the keeper could only stand and watch as the winger sent a tricky effort wide of an empty net.
With 13 left to play it was a set-play that almost caught Worcester cold again - Baker's ball in found Smikle whose tame shot inadvertently presented a chance for Riley who hooked a leg over it, the ball rising just over the target.
On 83 minutes Harriers missed another chance to grab a second - great pressure from Hadley forced City to give the ball away, straight to McPhee who powered some 20 yards towards goal before hitting wide with force from just inside the area.
Worcester: Jake Meridith, Graham Ward, Shabir Kahn, Craig Wilding, Wayne Daniel, Tom Kemp, Rob Davies (Gary Walker 83) Rob Elvins, Marc McGregor (Mark Clyde 22), Marco Addagio, Alfie Carter (Matt Dinsmore 70).
Unused subs: Kevin Spencer, Jordan Fitzpatrick.
Harriers: Jasbir Singh, Duane Courtney, Lee Baker, John Finnigan, Gavin Caines, Martin Riley, Chris McPhee, Dean Bennett, Brian Smikle, Aaron Farrell (Kyle Hadley 68), Damian Spencer.
Unused subs: Darryl Knights, Tom Sharpe, Nathan Hayward, Dean Coleman.
