Former Boro’ striker Ashley Chambers scored a hat-trick as Kidderminster Harriers ran out 4-1 winners at home to the Boro’. Michael Townsend scored his first for Nuneaton but another former Boro’ player scored from the spot in shape of Joe Ironside. Billy Daniels had the first effort as a defensive mix-up left the former Boro’ midfielder in plenty of space to fire a shot in. His drive was narrowly wide of the post as Nuneaton were let off the hook.

The opening 20 minutes were shaded by the home side but they were limited to a handful of long range efforts, Joel McAlinden coming closest when he hit the crossbar. Nuneaton’s most likely route to goal appeared to be from Rhys Sharpe’s long throw-ins, routinely causing issues within the Harriers’ box. None more-so than when Taylor Allen latched on to one at the back post, sliding in only to see Brandon Hall get down well to his left and coral the effort.

Chambers broke the deadlock from a corner, which the Harriers were awarded after, what looked a clear foul, on full back Curtis Obeng in the Reds’ half. They took advantage and broke forward, Sharpe making a good challenge to halt the move but conceding the corner kick in the process. The ball travelled to the back post where Chambers fired across goal in the bottom corner.

Kidderminster thought they had a second, only for Joe Ironside to flagged offside as he tapped in to the net from an Ed Williams cross. Boro’ drew level before the break as Townsend bundled the ball over the line under a heavy challenge. Allen’s free kick had brought the save from Hall that lead to the corner and Josh Lundstram’s delivery was perfect for the towering centre-half to get on the end of it.

It was level at the break, though McAlinden will feel he should have done better when perfectly teed up by Chambers, the midfielder drove his effort high and wide. Harriers did restore their lead shortly after the break, Townsend adjudged to have handled when he appeared to have his back to play. Ironside took the resulting spot kick, Cam Belford went the right way but the strike was just out of reach, expertly placed in the bottom corner.

Boro’ had a strong shout for a penalty when Ryan Edmunds was bundled over in the area, after some neat build-up play involving Allen and Devon Kelly-Evans, but the Referee was unmoved by the appeals.

Harriers wasted little time punishing the visitors, a swinging cross found Chambers at the far post for the striker to stoop and head in. The former Boro’ star completed his hat-trick when he was the beneficiary of a massive deflection on a defensive clearance, latching on to the loose ball and beating Belford one-on-one.

After three straight away games, against difficult opposition, Jimmy Ginnelly will be pleased to have a match at Liberty Way, hosting Alfreton Town on Saturday the 9th of March.

Report by Adam Etheridge