Kidderminster’s reputation as Stockport County’s bogey team was emphatically ended last night, as the Hatters overcame the full-time Harriers at a chilly Edgeley Park.
The 3-0 victory secured progress to the 3rd round of the competition, the furthest the Hatters have ever reached, and now means the club are only 3 rounds from a trip to Wembley.
Gannon made two changes from the side that drew 2-2 at Aggborough, with Harry Winter and Bohan Dixon coming in to start the match. Ian Ormson continued in goal with Ben Hinchliffe on the bench.
After an even start, it was County that drew first blood. Jason Oswell fed Rhys Turner on the right before the Morecambe striker whipped one past Brandon Hall in the Kidderminster goal to put the home side 1-0 up.
Since the goal, it was the Harriers who had the better chances and possession, but for all their domination they could not fully test Ian Ormson, with the away side restricted to territorial play and pot-shots from distance.
That pattern of play continued after half-time, and despite the Hatters defence looking resolute, you sensed that Kidderminster were the more likely team to score.
It came as a surprise then, when substitute Ben McKenna put County 2-0 up. Winter exchanged passes with Oswell before threading a ball through to McKenna, with the former Southport winger smashing past Hall.
That goal was McKenna’s third in seven days, with the 25-year-old adding to his Cheshire Senior Cup tally against Barnton last Tuesday.
The goal caught Kidderminster cold, and the Hatters extended their lead shortly after courtesy of a Bohan Dixon penalty in 89th minute.
It was Darren Stephenson that was tripped in the box by James Pearson, and after a quick rock-paper-scissors between Oswell and Dixon, the latter slotted home in the bottom left corner of the Cheadle End goal.
FT: County 3-0 Kidderminster
Scorers: Turner (25), McKenna (73), Dixon (89).
Squad: Ormson, Thomas, Clarke, O’Halloran, Duxbury, Ball, Winter, Dixon, Turner (McKenna, 59), Oswell (Downing, 90), Stephenson (Etches, 90).
Unused: Hinchliffe, Whitty
Attendance: 883
