The Bucks are in the hat for the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round after an impressive 3-1 win over Kidderminster Harriers.

The visitors made a fast start and had the ball in the net in under a minute. A long throw from the left was nodded and then turned in from a yard out by Kurt Willoughby, but the flag was raised for offside. A few minutes later Joe Foulkes nearly nipped in for Harriers, but debutant keeper Josh Gracey was alert. Then on 15 minutes Reece Devine’s early ball in found Willoughby in a good position, but the Kiddy forward guided his effort wide when well placed.

In was somewhat against the run of play, then, when the Bucks took the lead on 23 minutes. After an initial break didn’t anything, the Bucks kept the pressure on and worked the ball out to Dylan Allen-Hadley. The tricky Bucks attakcer then put a ball into the box that wasn’t dealt with by the Kidderminster defence, and Rhys Hilton fired home high into the roof of the net from close range.

The goal seemed to give the Bucks a boost, and Kevin Wilkin’s men were looking dangerous on the break. Allen-Hadley fired a shot just wide of the post on 27 minutes, before Ammar Dyer had the Harriers’ defence backpedalling although his shot was comfortably dealt with in the end.

Kidderminster were still playing some tidy football, but the Bucks were keeping them at arm’s length. Harriers forced some corners and a freekick right on half time, but Wilkin’s men stood firm and headed into the break with a 1-0 lead.

The second half started with both sides looking dangerous. Pendley headed just wide from a Jordan Cranston cross for the Bucks, while Willoughby fired into the side netting for the visitors.

The Bucks were looking dangerous on the break and from set plays. Remi Walker’s corner was headed towards goal by Pendley, but Christian Dibble did well to get down and somehow scramble it away for another corner. While Kiddy repelled the resultant set piece, the ball came to Charlie Williams, who crossed the ball back into the box for Pendley, who took a touch to set the ball into the air in front of him before firing home an unbelievable overhead kick to make it 2-0.

Harriers were obviously now in need of a goal, but the Bucks were denying them the opportunity to build any momentum. But with Wilkin’s men having dealt with most things Kiddy could throw at them, Harriers recycled the ball from a corner, and Tobi Sho-Silva stole in at the back post to head home and give the visitors hope.

But the Bucks continued to threaten. And when the returning Matty Stenson broke away, Harriers keeper Dibble raced out and handled outside of his box and was duly shown a red card. Wilkin’s men then put the icing on the cake when Kiddy rolled the dice at the death, sending everyone, including replacement keeper Amari Morgan-Smith, forward for a freekick. But the Bucks dealt with the set play and broke upfield through Ricardo Dinanga, with Williams on hand to slot into an unguarded net.

The Bucks were well worth their 3-1 win, and with it Wilkin’s men earn a place in the Third Qualifying Round.