On Sunday, the Ladies started the new season with a Women’s FA Cup Preliminary Round game against West Midlands Premier League side Leek Town Ladies.
Last season, Leek went unbeaten in their league campaign to gain promotion, seeing them now sit one division above Harriers.
The Ladies started well, but were soon one-nil down, after slack marking and an excellent ball in from wide out found a Leek player in acres of space - a powerful header put the home side behind.
Although playing some decent football, Harriers were not at their best but got a break, and Alex Nicklin slotted the ball home from the edge of the area - not a great strike – but it beat the keeper to level the tie.
Harriers started to apply a bit of pressure and it paid off, when a Leek defender put through her own net to put Harriers 2-1 up at the break.
The second half was going to be a battle, as Leek came out with all guns blazing - a corner was unfortunately put into her own net by skipper, Anne Johnson.
It was now definitely game on and, with this goal, Leek Town had their tails up and were on top again, and from another set piece, they scored a third, and a fourth followed with a great strike from outside the box.
Manager James Astle made changes to try and get something out of the game, and it wasn’t long before substitute, Hannah Ashman, pulled a goal back with a great strike from wide to reduce the score to 4-3.
Harriers created a few more chances, but it wasn’t to be this year, and the final whistle went, the FA Cup dream this season was over.
The Ladies go again in a couple of weeks as they look to begin their defence of the County Cup with a home tie against Redditch Borough.