A Cheltenham Town reserve XI beat Kidderminster 2-1 this afternoon.
A Robins reserve team beat Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 earlier today.A first half Zack Kotwica penalty and a second half header from Keith Lowe handed Cheltenham a victory despite Harriers putting some pressure on late in the game.
Cheltenham started the game brightly and were immediately a threat to Kidderminster with Zack Kotwica proving a real threat on the left wing but there was an anxious moment just shy of ten minutes when youth team captain Spencer Hamilton landed badly on his head following a strong header. The young central defender looked a little dazed but carried on once he had been fully checked over by Ian Weston.
The Robins were gathering momentum and they were handed a penalty following a foul on Zack Kotwica in the area. The young winger took the spot kick himself and buried it into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 Cheltenham. A bizarre incident then led to Kidderminster midfielder Jamie Tolley being asked to leave the pitch or risk a red car from the referee due to heavy dissent following Cheltenham's penalty. The 'sin bin' lasted a few minutes before Tolley was back on the pitch.
Cheltenham, overseen by Neil Howarth and Russell Milton, should have been 2-0 up soon after when some good work from Bobbie Dale allowed Joe Hanks to get a shot in at goal but the midfielder was denied by the base of the post before Harriers quickly cleared their lines. The visitors weren't without their opportunities though and they missed a sitter midway through the half with the Kidderminster striker missing an open goal six yards out. Cheltenham continued to hunt a second goal after that brief glimmer of hope for Kidderminster and they were awarded a penalty in the 33rd minutes after Ed Williams was tripped in the area. Once again Zack Kotwica stepped up but this time his penalty was saved and, in the effort to collect the rebound, he was felled by Kidderminster keeper Vaughan prompting the referee to award a third penalty of the match and the second within one minute. Kotwica wasn't short of confidence and he took the spot kick once again only to be denied once again by Vaughan.
An entertaining first half of football came to a close with Ashley Vincent and Ryan Inniss both coming close to scoring ahead of the whistle.
Cheltenham were ahead and in control but they strengthened their position with a 46th minute back post header from Keith Lowe. The right back had a strong performance throughout the game and deserved his goal but Kidderminster reacted well and they soon started to put pressure on the Robins.
On 61 minutes Kidderminster grabbed a goal back after some lovely football saw Joe Lolley fly past the central defenders and thump in a good finish from just inside the area. Steve Burr's Kidderminster were now looking more lively and they could have had an equaliser had Connor Roberts not reacted quickly to Danny Jackman's point blank effort. Cheltenham's Welsh U21 goalkeeper made a number of saves as the game approached it's conclusion with Kidderminster finishing strongly but the Robins held on to record victory.
Cheltenham Reserve XI: Roberts (GK); Lowe, Inniss, Hamilton, Jones; Vincent, Hanks, Taylor, Kotwica; E. Williams, Dale
Subs used: Adam Powell (replaced Kotwica), James Bowen (replaced Billy Jones) & Harry Williams (replaced Ed Williams).
Star Man: Ryan Inniss