FA Trophy holders Stevenage Borough have one foot in the final after taking Kidderminster Harriers apart in their Semi Final first leg at Aggborough on Saturday.
Boro will take a resounding four-goal advantage back to Broadhall Way after a headed brace from David Bridges, a poachers` strike from Yemi Odubade and two Chris Beardsley second half goals saw Boro to a 5-1 victory over a below-par Kidderminster side.
Graham Westley’s team, who are chasing promotion to the Football League and sit top of the Blue Square Premier, have now won nineteen of their last twenty-one matches in the Trophy.
They will have expected a tougher encounter against a Kidderminster side who also suffered defeat to Saturday’s opponents at this stage of the competition three years ago.
Despite a bright start from the hosts, Stevanage had too much quality in the final third and now look set to reach their second successive final.
Both left-back Lee Baker and winger Brian Smikle tested Boro keeper Chris Day in the opening 15 minutes, but Kidderminster’s hopes of progressing to Wembley suffered a first blow when midfielder Bridges gave the visitors a 25th minute lead.
The wideman was left unmarked to head beyond home keeper Ross Atkins, much to the disappointment of the crowd gathered behind the goal.
With their Wembley dreams hanging in the balance, Kidderminster needed a quick reply and they got it, at least initially, through Gavin Caines. The centre half skillfully evaded a challenge on the edge of the Stevanage 18-yard box before lashing a superb strike high beyond the helpless Day.
However, their joy was short-lived as more poor defending allowed the dangerous Mitchell Cole to get to the byline and the former Southend man pulled back to provide Odubade with a simple tap in from four yards.
The visitors compounded a terrible first half for the Harriers when Bridges stole a yard from a corner to head his second, and Stevenage’s third, 2 minutes before the break.
Both sides enjoyed spells of pressure after the restart but, inevitably, it was Stevanage who found the back of the net again. Beardsley reacted quickest to a rebound off the bar, making the score 4-1 in the 70th minute, and the former Harriers` player added his side’s fifth with 7 minutes left to play.
The forward cut in from the left before sliding beyond Atkins to ensure a party atmosphere at next Saturday’s second leg.
Barrow will take a one-goal advantage back to Cumbria after a tense Semi Final first leg victory over Salisbury City at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium.
Gregg Blundell’s 74th minute effort gave the visitors a 1-0 win against a Whites` side, whose misery was compounded by a late red card for Darrell Clark.
The City captain was given his marching orders for a foul on Andrew Bond and will now miss the crucial second leg at Holker Street next Saturday.
Striker Blundell’s second half effort, on the counter-attack, proved the difference between the evenly-matched sides in a game of few clear cut chances.
Barrow frustrated their hosts throughout a first-half that flickered but never fully ignited and then both sides opened up after the restart, with striker Matty Tubbs a constant threat for Salisbury.
But, after latching on to a long ball forward, Blundell kept his composure after seeing his initial effort saved and calmly slotted in the rebound to give his side the lead.
Neither Chris Giles nor Clark were able to make the most of half-chances for Salisbury in the closing stages as they chased an equaliser.
And with just minutes left to play, the home skipper was shown a straight red to complicate his side's plans ahead of what is sure to be a keenly contested Second Leg next weekend.
