NEW Kidderminster Harriers boss Adam Murray made a winning start in the Aggborough dugout following a 1-0 pre-season victory against Halesowen Town, writes Neil Gordon.
Summer signing Kurt Willoughby scored a fine goal after the hour mark in a fiery contest as Harriers supporters watched their side under Murray at home for the first time.
Murray was taking charge of Harriers for the first time since replacing Phil Brown as Kidderminster boss in May.
However, his opposite number and now Halesowen boss Russ Penn made a return to Aggborough after previously managing Harriers from 2020 to 2024.
The first chance of the game fell to new signing Willoughby when his glancing header went wide after good work from Joe Foulkes.
And Foulkes then picked out another new recruit, Jason Adigun, on the edge of the box only for a Yeltz defender to snuff out the danger.
Defender Pierce Bird then let fly from 35-yards out with an effort which failed to trouble Dan Platt in the Halesowen goal.
Adigun then shot wide before Willoughby forced Platt to tip the ball onto the post. The ball rolled agonisingly across the face of goal and struck the other post before Halesowen cleared to safety.
At the other end, Jason Cowley sen McKauley Manning through as the latter’s shot forced a corner.
Moments before the break, Cowley then fired a long range shot into the side netting before Christian Dibble punched another Cowley shot over the crossbar.
After the interval, towering centre-back Emeka Obi headed over at a corner as Harriers went in search of the opening goal.
And a flowing move brought about the game’s only goal on 67 minutes as Willoughby raced into the box and fired a shot across goal past the advancing Platt.
Halesowen almost drew level late on as a trialist blazed over before Dibble made a crucial double save to deny Charlie Wragg at the death.
Kidderminster are next in action against Solihull Moors on Saturday, August 2 with kick-off at 1pm at Aggborough.
