FOLLOWING the first blast of referee Benjamin Speedie’s whistle, York City wasted little time in stamping their authority on this FA Trophy tie.

Setting a brisk pace, Sam Collins’ men forged in front within 90 seconds of their third qualifying round clash at Kidderminster Harriers and quickly signalled their intention to improve on their passive performance during the 3-0 league defeat at Altrincham seven days earlier.

After Jordan Burrow profited from the swift start to tap in from close range, the rapid Alex Bray went on to tee up Lewis Hawkins for his first City goal midway through the first period.

When Bray was adjudged to have been tripped by home defender Fraser Horsfall, Burrow then converted a 51st-minute penalty to take his goal tally for the season to eight.

Lee Vaughan subsequently reduced the deficit, but City keeper Adam Bartlett, playing against his old team, ensured there would be no grandstand finish from the hosts when he saved Ed Williams’ late spot kick.

The Minstermen kicked off the game with a sense of adventure that was missing the previous weekend at Altrincham, with Alex Harris making a positive burst into the home box through the right channel before sending in a low cross that Burrow converted from close range.

In reply, Billy Daniels hit the roof of the stand from 20 yards for the Harriers, before Kallum Griffiths went closer with a dipping free kick, awarded after the menacing Bray was tripped inches outside of the box by Vaughan.

After Kane Richards had headed straight at Bartlett following a cross by former City double-Wembley winning hero Ashley Chambers, Bray then sprinted away from Vaughan again to race on to Harris’ through ball and go clear through the left channel.

His shot was kept out by Brandon Hall’s legs at the near post, but the on-loan Rotherham winger would inflict greater damage on 23 minutes.

This time, Burrow sent him haring away down the left and his low cross to the far post found Hawkins, who applied the final touch to a devastating counter-attack from close range.

Kiddy’s highly-rated midfielder Williams, currently being monitored by Championship outfit Leeds United, began to make his presence felt just past the half-hour mark.

Trying his luck with a couple of 20-yard efforts, Williams’ first attempt was parried by Bartlett before Nathan Dyer cleared the danger and his second whistled just over.

The talented 23-year-old then sent Chambers clear through on goal, but his shot was too close to an outrushing Bartlett, who managed to divert the ball past his right-hand post.

Either side of half-time, Richards, Daniels and Williams all failed to extend Bartlett from distance, while Harris combined well with Adriano Moke, before his curling attempt was caught by Hall.

Moments later, Bray was again driving into the 18-yard area and, although Horsfall appeared to have tackled him cleanly, Mr Speedie pointed to the spot with no hesitation and Burrow blasted down the middle of the goal as Hall dived to his left.

To their credit, Kidderminster never surrendered, and Dan Bradley aimed high and wide from 10 yards after good work close to the byline by Chambers, while Horsfall headed straight at Bartlett after being left unmarked from a Vaughan corner.

But Neil MacFarlane’s team were indebted to Hall, as he prevented them from conceding four goals for a third consecutive fixture, racing out of his goal to smother Harris’ shot after he had been played in through the left channel by Bray.

At the other end, Chambers’ header lacked the direction to unduly trouble Bartlett, but the West Midlanders did get on the scoresheet on 67 minutes when Vaughan fired in from eight yards after Sam Austin had cut in from the left and forced the City keeper into a parried save from his diagonal drive.

Further chances saw Bradley’s curling 25-yard effort held at a good height by Bartlett and Richards narrowly clear the crossbar from just inside the penalty area.

On 89 minutes, Richards was then bundled over in the box following a clumsy Bray challenge, but Bartlett dived to his left to keep out Williams’ spot kick and Hawkins made a super block to ensure no damage was inflicted from the rebound.

The victory represented City’s first triumph in their last eight contests against Kidderminster and, albeit in the Trophy, also marked the club’s first win this term against any side currently in the National League North’s top-seven positions.

City ratings

Adam Bartlett 8

Nathan Dyer 8

Joe Davis 8

Joe Tait 7

Sean Newton 7

Kallum Griffiths 7

Lewis Hawkins 8

Adriano Moke 8

Alex Harris 8

Jordan Burrow 8

Alex Bray 8

Substitutes: David Ferguson (for Harris, 79), Josh Law (for Tait, 84).

Subs not used: Jake Wright, Macaulay Langstaff, Wes York.

Star man: Burrow - showed excellent character to grab ball for crucial penalty, having missed spot kick earlier in season

Kidderminster: Brandon Hall, Lee Vaughan, Fraser Horsfall, Ryan Johnson, Sam Austin, Dan Bradley, Russ Penn, Billy Daniels, Ed Williams, Kane Richards, Ashley Chambers. Subs: Joel Taylor, Ed Wagner, James Baxendale, Declan Weeks, Tom Palmer.

Kidderminster star man: Austin – kept plugging away down the left flank

Referee: Benjamin Speedie 7/10 – might have been a bit harsh with penalty award against hosts

Booked: Vaughan 45, Griffiths 81

Sent off: None

Attendance: 784 (66 from City)

Shots on target: Kidderminster 12, City 6

Shots off target: Kidderminster 4, City 1

Corners: Kidderminster 5, City 2

Fouls conceded: Kidderminster 10, City 13

Offside: Kidderminster 2, City 0