Harriers 0 Shrewsbury 2 - Report and pictures

In a fiercely competitive game, Town emerged with their second win of the warm-up programme following three games against Championship opposition.

It came thanks to a fortunate goal from Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro and an opportunist strike from James Collins.

Harriers made an urgent start to the game and forced the pace in the early stages.

In fact, the non-league side should have been in front at the break rather than their League One foes, but for wasted chances.

A mis-hit pass by Town defender Mark Ellis gifted Kidderminster a glorious opportunity after just 40 seconds.

Livewire trialist Rob Taylor seized on the loose ball and fed Reece Styche, but the striker could only blaze over the bar after cutting inside Jermaine Grandison.

A foul from behind by Grandison gave Harriers another chance after four minutes.

This time another trialist, ex-Leicester right winger Adam Dawson, saw his curling free kick acrobatically tipped over the bar by Jayson Leutwiler.

Dawson, who looked dangerous throughout, created the next opening in the 16th minute, crossing for central midfielder Luke Maxwell to steam in at the back post with a powerful header that flew wide.

Harriers (4-4-2): Snedker (Palmer HT); Hodgkiss, Langmead, Tunnicliffe (O'Hanlon 86), Rowe-Turner; Dawson (Green 82), Clarke, Maxwell (Hales 78), Taylor (Singh 60); Verma (Reffell 84), Styche (Reid 76).

Town (4-4-2): Leutwiler; Tootle (Patterson HT), Ellis, Grandison (Goldson HT), Sadler (Demetriou HT); Whalley (Clark HT), Ogogo (Lawrence HT), R Woods (M Woods 63), Akpa-Akpro (Brown 63); Barnett (McAlinden HT), Collins.

Subs not used: McKnight, Vernon, Burton (gk).

Referee: Wayne Barratt (Worcs).

But seven minutes later, Shrewsbury took the lead with a fortuitous goal.Akpa-Akpro was credited with it after cutting in from the left and unleashing a low drive.

Trialist keeper Dean Snedker seemed to have it covered, until it struck the legs of a Harriers defender and wrong-footed him.

To their credit, the hosts immediately tried to hit back with a volley from Taylor that had Leutwiler watching anxiously. Shrewsbury gradually came more into the game after taking the lead.

Shaun Whalley's fierce volley five minutes before the break was met by an equally spectacular save from Snedker. after the unmarked winger was teed up by Collins.

Shrewsbury made five changes at half-time with trialist Sam Patterson, Connor Goldson, Mickey Demetriou, Jordan Clark and Liam McAlinden replacing Matt Tootle, Grandison, captain for the first half Mat Sadler, Whalley and Tyrone Barnett.

And Town made the first inroads following the restart on 48 when Collins dragged a shot wide.

Following another three Town substitutions, we had to wait until the 67th minute for the next goalmouth action, as Kidderminster midfielder Luke Maxwell hooked into the side-netting.

Harriers remained a threat and Joe Clarke had the sparse crowd on their feet, when he crashed a 25-yard effort off the bar.

But Town then struck to seal the win. After sub keeper Alex Palmer stuck out a leg to keep out Collins' first-time effort deep, he then depatched a low shot under the keeper to make it 2-0.

McAlinden went close to a third goal for Micky Mellon's side when he let fly with a superb shot from 20 yards that beat Palmer.

It struck the inside of the post, with Jordan Clark firing the rebound into the side-netting.