Following an uplifting result last weekend against Solihull Moors, a return to league action ended in a sour defeat at the Neuven Stadium as two goals in each half for Kidderminster Harriers allowed the away side to leave with maximum points.

Radcliffe made two changes to the starting eleven that advanced in the FA Trophy last Saturday, with Rick Smith and Brad Roscoe returning to make their 18th and 22nd appearances of the season respectively.

The visitors took the lead after 13 minutes through captain Amari Morgan-Smith who stabbed the ball into the back of the net after a delivery made its way into the area from the right-hand side to put Kidderminster 1-0 up.

Five minutes after the Harriers had taken the lead, Radcliffe were able to work the ball into the opposite 18-yard area. Anthony Dudley shuffled play out to the left channel into the feet of Scott Duxbury, the wing-back then danced around two defenders before Kam Kandola stepped in and cleared the danger.

Radcliffe won two corners in quick succession midway through the first 45, with the second almost producing an equaliser. Caleb Richards was well placed to head away the initial delivery at the near post, but gave Dudley a second chance to pick out a blue shirt in doing so. The number 10’s searching ball was met by the run of Brad Roscoe who remained forward and with a free header, the Boro defender’s header went narrowly wide of the upright.

Kidderminster added a second before the break as Tope Obadeyi headed the ball past Mateuez Hewelt, giving his team a two-goal cushion. A corner kick found the former Oldham Athletic player’s head, making no mistake as he nodded with force into the back of the Radcliffe net.

The opening ten minutes of the second half saw little action with the two outfits settling back into the match, however both did have the ball in the back of the net, only for the goals to be ruled out by the referee.

Radcliffe’s Josh Hancock poked home after the opposition goalkeeper had dropped the ball, halting his celebrations due to contact on Christian Dibble. Moments later, Morgan-Smith thought he’d scored his second of the game as he ran onto a through ball at the other end of the field, but the flag was quickly raised against the visiting captain.

Radcliffe introduced fresh legs in the 61st minute as Tom Walker and Tunde Owolabi replaced Scott Duxbury and Brad Roscoe, in a role of the dice to try and spruce up the team with less than half an hour to play.

Midway through the second 45, Greenfield went close to picking out the bottom corner of Dibble’s goal. After Kidderminster had somewhat cleared the Boro’s initial set piece, the midfielder picked up possession on the edge of the 18-yard area and curled towards the bottom left corner, but the chance went narrowly wide of the post.

Kidderminster added a third with just over 15 minutes remaining, ending the game as a contest in the process. Ash Hemmings almost dispatched a minute earlier before eventually finding the back of the net, Morgan-Smith clipped a ball into the area which found Hemmings, who picked his spot and headed home to make it 3-0 to the away side.

Luca Navarro was introduced in the 82nd minute to try and inspire a late comeback, as he replaced Josh Hancock. However, Kidderminster would only add salt to the wounds by netting a fourth in stoppage time, well and truly wrapping up all three points for Phil Brown’s men in Radcliffe’s final home match before Christmas.

Four minutes were added on at the end of the 90 and it only took moments before the Harriers scored their final goal of the afternoon as Hemmings received possession in the centre of the park before biding his time, eventually sliding into space for Caleb Richards who picked out the far corner from inside the penalty area.

Radcliffe are back in action next Saturday, with the Boro travelling to Alfreton Town on matchday 21 of our National League North season. Buy your tickets online here!