KIEREN Donnelly’s wonder goal helped Harriers to a 3-2 win to confirm Harriers as finishing third in National League North with a week to spare.
Harriers made a bright start and threatened early as a quick corner on two minutes found Emeka Obi, who rose well but powered his header over, before Ryley Reynolds nodded into the path of Kieren Donnelly shortly after, his effort held by Eddie Brearey.
The breakthrough came on eight minutes. Reynolds was pulled down just inside the area after getting to the ball first, and Charlie Cooper stepped up to dispatch the penalty with conviction.
Leamington responded quickly, though, levelling on 12 minutes when a loose ball in the six-yard box was turned home by Theo Streete.
Harriers continued to press with purpose. Reynolds and Josh Robinson combined neatly on 15 minutes, Robinson doing well to work space in the area before squaring for David Davis, whose effort drifted over.
At the other end, Rhys Lovett was called into action, first gathering a driven effort from Max Brogan on 19 minutes before reacting quickly to smother from Ty Lewthwaite on 26 minutes.
Obi again showed his aerial presence ten minutes before the break, heading a free kick across goal that narrowly evaded Donnelly as Harriers went in level at the interval.
The visitors resumed on the front foot. Reece Devine lifted a superb delivery to the far post on 50 minutes, but Robinson’s header drifted just wide.
Their pressure told five minutes later. Obi met a corner firmly and his header dropped invitingly for Owen Evans, who struck through the ball with authority to send a powerful volley into the net and restore the lead.
Harriers looked to build from there. George Walker and Robinson combined well just before the hour, the latter seeing a low effort flash wide, before Davis tried his luck from distance with a shot comfortably held.
Leamington, though, remained resilient and drew level again on 62 minutes as Brogan’s well-struck free kick found its way past Lovett.
The decisive moment arrived on 81 minutes, and it was one of real quality. From a defensive situation, Donnelly gathered the ball inside his own area, drove forward with purpose and carried it deep into opposition territory before finishing emphatically into the far corner.
It proved the difference. Amari Morgan-Smith had a late sight of goal at the far post in added time, his effort just drifting wide, but Harriers had already done enough.
A demanding afternoon, but one met with the right response, as Harriers secured the result needed to confirm third place and a home semi-final in the play-offs.
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