It was an unhappy return to Aggborough for the first time since April 2017 as Kidderminster Harriers beat the Shaymen to make it to the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Town were looking to make it to the third round for the first time since the 1987/88 season, but the Vanarama National North side had other ideas.
Manager Pete Wild named an unchanged line up from last weekend’s 3-2 win over Torquay United.
It was the home side who took the lead after just three minutes. A cross from the right-hand side was turned home from close range hitting the post by Amari Morgan-Smith
Town’s first opportunity came on 12 minutes when Jordan Slew found himself in plenty of space, but his effort was always rising and landed into the home fans behind the goal.
Kidderminster doubled their lead on 16 minutes, a cross from the left-hand side was not cleared and Ashley Hemmings fired from 12 yards out into the roof of the net for 2-0.
Town had a couple of chances to pull one back almost immediately with Billy Waters not able to connect with either and neither tested Luke Simpson.
A Kieran Green long ball for Jordan Slew, his first touch took him past the fullback Alex Perry, and he went down in the box. The referee didn’t give the penalty despite Pete Wild’s frantic appeals from the touchline
Maher lost the ball to Sterling, and he tried to chip Johnson who had to palm the ball over his own bar for a corner to the home side
The impressive Sam Austin had an effort just before the break after dispossessing Spence, but Johnson was able to save comfortably
At the break, it was Kidderminster fans cheering whilst the Town players went off to a chorus of boos from the away end.
There was on change of personnel at the break as defender Tom Bradbury made his first appearance since the 7-4 home win over Maidenhead United in the last round and he replaced Jesse Debrah at the start of the second half as Town looked to get back into the game.
Tyrell Warren got past Sterling, but his cross was blocked by a defender as Warburton looked to get on the end of the ball into the danger area.
Wild made changes with Summerfield, Woods and Newby all coming on for Warburton, Spence and Vale as Town looked to have more of the ball but still struggling to find a shot on Luke Simpson’s goal.
Elliot Bonds nearly made it 3-0 with a low shot which had beaten Johnson but not the post and it bounced off it for a goal kick.
Substitute Luke Summerfield found Newby and he moved it onto Green at the edge of the box, he turned his man, and the Town midfielder went down in the box, but referee Brett Huxtable waved away appeals for the penalty kick.
A ball forward for Green who looked to get into the box again, there are big appeals for handball from a defender but again there was no spot kick before Kidderminster went up the other end and Johnson had to get down low to save a shot from the edge of the box.
Captain Niall Maher had a shot from distance which was probably the closest Town got for chance at goal, but it went wide of the target
Town had a third penalty appeal with Warren going down, but nobody connected with Town would be surprised when the referee didn’t give the penalty kick again.
Morgan-Smith went down in the box under a challenge from Maher but despite a strong appeal, the home side also weren’t awarded a spot kick before Town went up the other end and had their best opportunity as it was worked to Gilmour but his effort inside the box was blocked.
The wait for the third round will wait again for at least another season, good luck to Kidderminster in the next round, they will find out their opponents tomorrow night.
Match Stats:
Kidderminster Harriers:
1 Luke Simpson, 2 Alex Penny, 3 Caleb Richards, 4 Nathan Cameron, 7 Sam Austin©, 8 Mark Carrington, 9 Amari Morgan-Smith, 10 Ashley Hemmings, 11 Omari Sterling, 16 Geraldo Bajrami, 23 Elliot Bonds
Subs; 5 Keith Lowe, 6 Joe Foulkes, 15 Keziah Martin, 17 Ethan Freemantle, 18 Kai Lissimore, 19 Jaiden White, 21 Jamie Emery (GK), 22 Jack Tolley, 25 Luke Bastable
FC Halifax Town: 1 Sam Johnson, 3 Jack Senior, 5 Jesse Debrah (6 Tom Bradbury 46), 8 Kieran Green, 10 Matt Warburton (4 Luke Summerfield 58), 11 Billy Waters, 17 Kian Spence (26 Martin Woods 66), 21 Tyrell Warren, 22 Jack Vale (24 Elliot Newby 58), 25 Jordan Slew (20 Harvey Gilmour 83), 31 Niall Maher ©
Subs: 12 Tom Scott, 2 Jay Benn, 18 Javid Swaby-Neavin, 19 Jamie Cooke
Referee: Brett Huxtable
Goals: Amari Morgan-Smith 3, Hemmings 16
Yellow Cards Spence 19, Maher 62
Red Cards None
Attendance 4296 (860 away)
Kidderminster Harriers 2 FC Halifax Town 0
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