Kidderminster Focus - A Club Aiming For Style And Substance

A young side who like to play the game ‘the right way’ - Harriers have a reputation of being extremely easy on the eye.

Boss John Eustace has implemented a style of play that looks to dominate the ball and stretch their opposition before using the gaps created to attack at speed.

But sometimes it just doesn’t come off. Kiddy had found themselves on the back of three straight defeats after their 17-match unbeaten run came to an end.

With National League North play-off rivals York City visiting Aggborough on Tuesday, some may have expected Harriers to dial things back and play for a point.

Not a chance. The home side stuck to their guns and looked to take the game to the Minstermen. The visitors had a good go, too. But Eustace’s men were clinical and came away with a vital 2-1 victory.

Forward Dan Bradley netted both goals - his first of the season - and he said there was never any doubt that they would stick to their expansive style of play.

“We spoke before the game about how big of a night it was for us, especially with York being just above us and after three defeats,” he told us.

“The good thing about this team is that we never doubt ourselves. Even with the pressure on us, we still try and do things the way we believe they should be done.

“Of course, it can be difficult. In any job when things aren’t going great, it’s difficult to put yourself in the firing line.

“Every time you get on the ball, you’re in a position where you have to do something with it so it’s massive credit to the lads that is doesn’t faze any of us. We’re a young group but that attitude can only help in the play-offs.”

Despite sitting fifth in the National League North, it’s been a frustrating season for the Aggborough outfit.

Beaten in the play-off semi-finals by Chorley last season, hopes were high of a potential title push.

But Eustace’s men haven’t had the consistency to keep up with the frontrunners and have drawn too many games.

It’s also been an exasperating campaign for Bradley, who joined Kidderminster at the start of the season from AFC Fylde.

He helped fire the Coasters to the National League North title last season with 18 League goals.

A number of niggling injuries have plagued his time at Kidderminster but after his starring role on Tuesday night, Bradley is hoping to celebrate another promotion come May.

“It’s been a long, frustrating season for me so to get the two goals was fantastic, he added. “It’s a bit of pressure off myself but the win was the most important thing.

“We do create a lot of chances and maybe don’t score enough as we should. To pick up a win against a team we might come up against will give us plenty of confidence.”

It’s hard to imagine Kidderminster not being in the top seven come the end of the season and most teams will want to avoid them in the play-offs.

One thing is for sure, Harriers won’t be changing their style for anybody!

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