Justin Richards opened his account for Kidderminster Harriers with a brace at Stafford Rangers tonight as the team secured a 3-1 win thanks to a fine second-half performance.

It was a less than satisfying offering from Harriers in the opening 45 but Richards managed to open the scoring with 26 minutes gone.  Good work from Brian Smikle down the flank saw the youngster scoop in a short cross to the far post that RICHARDS eventually hooked passed 'keeper Danny Alcock.

The hosts were very wasteful with their chances in the first half, Djouman Sangare, Seb Arnolin and Neil Grayson all had good chances before the break, specifically Grayson who managed to get the ball past Scott Bevan after the shot-stopper had come out of his area to boost a clearance. Bevan raced back onto his line before Grayson got his shot away and managed to get down well to save.

Bevan gets down well to save from Neil Grayson

On the stroke of half-time, Harriers gifted Stafford an equaliser when a woeful clearance found its way to the feet of ARNOLIN who blazed a low drive past the diving Bevan into the bottom right corner of the net.

After some strong words at half-time, the visitors came out for the second period and straight away looked the brighter side with Smikle again going close.

Arnolin forced Bevan into another save just before Harriers took the lead with 65 minutes on the clock. Smikle played the ball into the feet of HURREN who stole a few yards on his man before hitting a sweet long-range drive past Alcock.

Russ Penn in midfield action at Stafford

Harriers held the upper-hand for the majority of the half and in pushing for a third they got a penalty six minutes from time after Sangare had fouled Richards in the area. After dusting himself down, RICHARDS powered the penalty into the back of the net to double his tally for the night.

Smikle and sub Iyseden Christie combined well in injury time as a curling effort from Christie was tipped just wide by Alcock.

PICS: EXPRESS AND STAR