Cardiff City began their pre-season with a narrow defeat against the Harriers on Wednesday night.
The crucial moment in the game came at the end of the first half, as Joel Colwill put the ball through his own net following Jak Alnwick's rebounding save at the far post. Despite City pushing throughout the second half, they couldn’t find an equaliser.
Amongst the names starting for Erol Bulut’s side for their first preseason game of the campaign were Joe Ralls, who took the captain’s armband, brothers Joel and Rubin Colwill, and Isaak Davies, who spent last season at Belgian side Kortrijk.
After a quiet opening ten minutes, the Bluebirds began to find their stride. Joel Colwill’s shot from the edge of the box was well held by Christian Dibble, before Cian Ashford saw his shot blocked at the last second by Alex Penny.
As the half wore on, Isaak Davies was becoming more of a threat. He beat the offside trap perfectly and raced through on goal, but Dibble was off his line quickly to come and collect the ball before the striker had a shot. Perhaps the most audacious attempt of the half came through David Turnbull, who spotted Dibble off his line and tried his arm from the halfway line, but the ball fell the wrong side of the post.
City continued to apply the pressure, and Rubin Colwill was next to have a shot on goal. He jinked into a pocket of space outside the box before unleashing a rasping strike, but the ball cannoned off the foot of the post.
From a Kidderminster perspective, Ashley Hemmings attempted to chip the ball over Jak Alnwick after racing through City’s defence, but the 'keeper made a good save to put the ball out for a corner. However, it would be the Harriers who would have the lead at the break. A cross from the right found the head of Hemmings, and while his header down was well saved by Alnwick, the ball was turned into his own net by Joel Colwill. Bulut’s men behind at half time.
A new eleven started the second half for the Bluebirds, with the likes of Adeteye Gbadehan, Luey Giles, Dakarai Mafico and Callum Robinson getting 45 minutes under their belts.
Minutes into the second half, and City managed to fashion out their best opportunity of the game so far. A wicked cross was sent into the box, and there with a diving header at the back post was Gbadehan, but he couldn’t direct the ball on target.
Despite keeping the ball for large swathes of the second half, the boys in blue struggled to test the Kidderminster keeper. Ollie Tanner and Raheem Conte were doing well to find space down the wings but couldn’t find the final ball to penetrate the away defence.
Cardiff City will next be in action on Saturday July 13th, as they take on Kortrijk at Cardiff International Sports Campus. Kick-off is at 12pm.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 0-1 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS
Cardiff City First Half XI: Alnwick, J. Colwill, Goutas, McGuinness, T. Davies, Ralls ©, Turnbull, R. Colwill. Méïté, Ashford, I. Davies.
Cardiff City Second Half XI: Dennis, Gbadehan, Fagan-Walcott, Bagan, Giles, Mafico, Rinomhota, Wintle ©, Tanner, Conte, Robinson.
Kidderminster Harriers First Half XI: Dibble, Penny ©, Richards, Downing, Summerfield, Hemmings, Caodgan, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Player A, Thompson, Hewett.
Kidderminster Harriers Second Half XI: Bishop, Player B, McNally, Lambert, Morgan-Smith ©, Foulkes, Brown, Player C, Player D, Player E, Rubio.