Kidderminster 4 Exeter 3

Last updated : 24 August 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Kidderminster got their first win of the season beating Exeter in a seven-goal thriller at Aggborough.

Shocking defending by both teams and some good finishing ensured that the forwards came out on top.

The visitors needed less than three minutes to expose the Harriers defence, Adie Smith was dispossessed and the ball played through to Steve Flack who raced clear and fired it powerfully past Stuart Brock.

Matters soon were worse for the home team when former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe crossed from the left, Lee Ayres fell in the penalty area and Brock's dive got nowhere near the ball leaving Martin Thomas with an easy tap-in at the far post.

When Harriers had the ball they were managing to pass it around quite well and Exeter's defence looked almost as shaky. Sean Parrish had a header saved and Drewe Broughton shot wide while at the other end James Coppinger shot over the bar when it would have been easier to score.

After 28 minutes Harriers pulled a goal back, Abdou Sall brought the ball out of defence and then played a defence-splitting pass through to Bo Henriksen who swept home his second goal of the season from close range.

The goal gave Kidderminster a little confidence and soon they were level. Parrish's left-wing corner was headed in at the far post by Ayres for his first goal for the club.

Early after the break Harriers nearly took the lead, Broughton volleying over from Smith's cross although Smith was then ruled to have been offside.

Harriers' third goal wasn't long in coming, however, Broughton heading on a long ball into the path of Henriksen who volleyed past the dive of Miller from the edge of the penalty area.

Once in front Harriers began to dominate and after 68 minutes Ayres lashed in the fourth after Broughton's header had been saved.

Neil Whitworth almost turned the ball into his own net from a Broughton cross to further increase the Harriers lead but Miller reacted well to save.

Thirteen minutes from the end Exeter pulled a goal back, a right wing cross was only weakly headed away by Sall as far as substitute Andy Roscoe who hammered it into the top corner from 20 yards out.

Exeter now pressed for an equaliser and Harriers had to soak up a lot of pressure in a very long final ten minutes. Brock saved well from Roscoe and somehow the defence stood firm as the visitors forced a series of late corners that they could not capitalise on