Championship Coventry City avoided any upset against non-league Midlands rivals Kidderminster Harriers.
Best and McKenzie on target for Coventry
Championship Coventry City avoided any upset against non-league Midlands rivals Kidderminster Harriers with a 2-1 win at The Ricoh Arena in their FA Cup third round clash.
Coventry booked their place in the fourth round with Leon McKenzie and Leon Best firing home second-half goals for Chris Coleman's side.
The Sky Blues had been frustrated by Kidderminster goalkeeper Adam Bartlett who made a string of fine saves in the first half as both teams went into the break on level terms.
But McKenzie drilled the ball home from the edge of the penalty area in the 52nd minute and Best ended the tie as a contest 30 minutes later with a fine solo goal.
Coventry had begun positively and Bartlett was forced to make a smart save from McKenzie who directed a superb header at goal from Robbie Simpson's teasing cross in the 12th minute.
Bartlett was then called into action again six minutes later when he brilliantly tipped a fierce shot from Best round the post.
Coleman's team continued to press and moments later a corner from Michael Doyle picked out Aron Gunnarsson but the Iceland international could only direct his header over the crossbar.
Another corner from Doyle in the 21st minute caused havoc in the Kidderminster penalty area and Simpson avoided his marker and powerfully headed at goal but Bartlett claimed confidently.
Coventry forward Freddy Eastwood created a shooting opportunity in the 28th minute but was unable to control his left-footed strike from 20 yards out which flew over the bar.
The Conference Premier side proved stubborn opponents as the half wore on and Harriers defender Lee Baker made several important blocks before half-time.
First chance
Mark Yates's side registered their first attempt on target immediately after the interval and Russell Penn should have done better with a shot on the edge of the penalty area which was saved by Coventry goalkeeper Andy Marshall.
Kidderminster's rearguard was, though, breached by the Championship side in the 52nd minute when Doyle's mis-hit corner fell into the path of McKenzie just inside the penalty area.
The Sky Blues striker anticipated the bobbling ball and sweetly struck a left-footed shot past Bartlett and into the bottom right corner of the net.
McKenzie's strike saw Coventry push for a second and Doyle's corner to the far post in the 57th minute was met by the head of Ben Turner which was brilliantly tipped past the post by Bartlett.
Best had a good chance to double the advantage in the 66th minute when he found space on the right edge of the box but he could only shoot tamely at Bartlett.
Kidderminster pressed for an equaliser but Best effectively ended their hopes eight minutes from full-time with a fine individual goal.
Eastwood slipped the ball through to Best who danced past several Harriers defenders before he smashed the ball past Bartlett into the bottom left corner of the net.
The visitors almost pulled one back in injury time but Darryl Knights could only shoot tamely straight at Coventry goalkeeper Marshall after finding space just outside the box.
| Team Name |
Coventry City |
Kidderminster Harriers |
| Possession |
63% |
37% |
| Goals |
2 |
0 |
| Shots On Target |
7 |
2 |
| Shots Off Target |
5 |
2 |
| Blocked Shots |
6 |
1 |
| Corners |
15 |
4 |
| Fouls Conceded |
6 |
6 |
| Offsides |
3 |
5 |
| Yellow Cards |
0 |
0 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
|
