HARRIERS 2 BRADFORD 1

TIS the season to be jolly! The 2005-06 campaign might not have given Harriers too much to shout about, but this latest LDV Vans Trophy triumph has certainly filled them with festive cheer.

The £15,000 that Kidderminster will bank for progressing to the Northern Area semi-final, effectively the last eight of the competition, is certainly welcome in the current frosty financial climate at Aggborough.

But it is the prospect of being just two games, that's just 180 minutes, from the possibility of a final at the Millennium Stadium that will really provide Harriers with a warm glow going into the Christmas break.

Lower league football's premier knockout competition has been the silver lining on a cloudy old season for the Hoo Road men so far.

And even though sponsors LDV might be on the brink of breaking down, Harriers are certainly motoring.

The hard-fought victory over League One Bradford was Harriers' third Football League scalp in a row with League Two Darlington and Boston also falling victim to Kidderminster's best performances of the year.

Colin Todd's men only had themselves to blame after a moment of recklessness and sheer stupidity from Lee Crooks leaving them playing 84 minutes of the tie with 10 men.

There was no need whatsoever for Crooks to hurl himself dangerously into a tackle with Lee Thompson on the half way line after just six minutes.

And although Bradford's travelling contingent of 149 fans gave `Thommo' ironic boos for making a meal of the challenge every time he touched the ball, there was no doubt that Crooks deserved his straight red card.

Kidderminster capitalised on their numerical advantage almost immediately and made the extra man pay off on 12 minutes when they upped the tempo and opened the scoring.

After a short spell of pinning the Bantams in their own half, Mark Jackson's header found the feet of Michael Blackwood who threaded a neat ball into Iyseden Christie.

There were appeals for offside against the Harriers top scorer, but with a host of scouts watching his every move, Christie was not to be denied his 12th goal of the season, lashing a fine finish into the roof of the net from 10 yards out.

The burly striker, who is sure to be the subject of more transfer interest during the January window, could have had a second on the stroke of half-time, but his volley from Simon Heslop's cross was charged down.

Harriers were buzzing at that stage, but with Bradford refusing to go down without a fight they retreated further into their own territory and had to be grateful for a reflex Dan Lewis save to keep out Andy Cooke's vicious volley.

Russ Penn eased Harriers nerves by adding the all-important second goal with his first senior strike on 60 minutes, playing a wonderful one-two with Thompson before rifling in a low drive from 18 yards.

It was backs to the wall stuff from then on as Joe Brown glanced in a header from fellow City substitute Ben Muirhead's corner on 70 minutes.

And with Kidderminster desperately clinging on, Lewis was relieved to see David Wetherall's stoppage time header bounce to safety off the post.

Harriers now face a Northern area semi-final tie against Hereford, Carlisle or Macclesfield.