HARRIERS eased themselves back to winning ways with a crushing 4-0 win over Oxford City in National League North.

The Aggborough success proved to be the perfect tonic to the 2-1 defeat at Warrington Town on Saturday.

Goals from Ben Beresford, Ashley Hemmings, Maz Kouhyar and Seb Thompson saw off a City side who ended the game with ten men following the second half dismissal of former Harriers loanee Cole Kpekawa.

Through Andre Burley in the 16th minute, Oxford did actually fashion the first chance of the day when his effort in the area was blocked but, ultimately, that was as much of a challenge as there was to Christian Dibble’s goal all afternoon.

The home side took over from there, goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle tipping over smartly from Ashley Hemmmings before Beresford broke the deadlock, tapping in unmarked at the back post from a corner.

Less than five minutes later it was two as impressive York City loanee Kouhyar’s delivery was met by an equally perfect header from Hemmings who diverted the ball into the far corner of the net.

A negative on the afternoon followed seven minutes before the break when Beresford was withdrawn with what boss Phil Brown feared after the game could be a hamstring injury.

His side were undeterred by the loss, though, as Maliq Cadogan drove just past the post a minute later, before nudging over the bar from close range.

In added time at the end of the first period Harriers netted a third and arguably killed the game off. Kouhyar chased down the ball, looking second best to McKenzie-Lyle initially, before bravely blocking the goalkeeper’s clearance to send the ball darting beyond the pair of them and into the net for his third of the campaign.

Oxford’s day went from bad to worse just seven minutes after the resumption. Thompson, on as a sub for Beresford, had been played through on goal and was clearly fouled by former teammate Kpekawa who could have few complaints about his straight red card.

Harriers almost made City pay immediately – Luke Summerfield curled the free kick that was given for the foul low, the effort beaten away by McKenzie-Lyle, but only into the path of Zak Brown who volleyed high over the bar on the follow-up.

The shot-stopper was busy again four past the hour, denying Reiss McNally at close range as the defender headed an effort at close range.

There was to be no preventing a Harriers fourth, though, as Thompson beautifully dipped a free kick from 20 yards over the wall and into the net with McKenzie-Lyle helpless to prevent it with just four minutes left to play.

The tireless Cadogan might’ve made it 5-0 in added time but his finish on the angle cannoned off the post, moments before a third straight home win to start the term was confirmed for Phil Brown’s men, who now head to Scunthorpe United for a big Friday night encounter. (7:45pm).