Bradford Park Avenue 1, Harriers 4

HARRIERS progressed to the Second Round of the FA Trophy with a convincing win over old foes Bradford Park Avenue on Monday night.

Gary Whild’s side took the lead through Johnson after just eight minutes, the winger firing into the top corner having burst down the centre.

The move was instigated by Reece Styche, who charged down a clearance to win possession and find Johnson to his left, as the referee waved away Avenue’s protests of handball.

Gowling doubled Harriers’ advantage 10 minutes later, leaping highest from Craig Reid’s corner to nod past keeper John Danby.

Callum Gittings had a superb opportunity to make it 3-0 to Harriers after 33 minutes, as he stood well-placed to nudge home Styche’s low cross from the left, but the midfielder somehow placed it wide instead.

However, he made up for it in the second half, sending a curling strike into the top corner from just outside the box after good play by Reid and Styche.

Reid notched a goal for himself after 69 minutes, coolly firing home a low shot from Kyle Storer’s right-sided pass, before academy product Kennedy Digie made his first-team debut three minutes later.

Avenue got one back five minutes from time through Danny Frost but it was little more than a consolation for the hosts as Harriers will lament not keeping a clean sheet.

Whild praised his side’s professional and hard-working display after the game.

“I’m delighted with the attitude of the players and the quality of some of our play tonight,” he said.

“We know it’s a difficult place to come so it was good to get through with a good performance.

“We always looked a threat in the final third and our two early goals gave us a big lift.

“It was important for us to be professional and overall we carried that off.

“We spoke about the Trophy as a competition that we want to do well in and give the supporters something to cheer as the season goes on.

“We’re look forward to the Altrincham game at home and we’ve got some important games before that, starting with Lincoln on Saturday.”

HARRIERS: Lewis, Hodgkiss, Green, Storer (Digie, 72), Johnson, Reid, Styche (Hales, 59), Grimes, Gittings (Obeng, 80), Nicholson, Gowling (c) Subs not used: Mayebi.

BRADFORD PARK AVENUE: Danby, Howarth, Price (c), Rea, Qualter, Barraclough, Colbeck, Walker (Clayton, 35), Chilaka, Colley (Marshall, 63), Frost Subs not used: Priestley, Heaton, Smith Referee: Ian Hussin Attendance: 159