Goalkeeper Michael Ingham’s Wembley hangover continued after he gifted a first goal for Kidderminster Harriers in their surprise 2-1 victory at York City.
The former Northern Ireland international, whose early indiscretion in the Minstermen’s play-off final defeat to Oxford United left them unsuccessfully chasing that particular game for the rest of the afternoon, stood helpless as Callum Gittings curled the visitors into the lead direct from a tenth-minute corner.
York striker Richard Brodie then proceeded to miss a number of opportunities before substitute Michael Rankine equalised from the penalty spot four minutes from time after being brought down by Tom Shaw.
However, the hosts again shot themselves in the foot moments later when ex-Kidderminster defender Duane Courtney bundled over Chris McPhee and Shaw redeemed himself by lashing home the winner from the spot.
The home fans were in decent voice as York attacked towards their favoured end during the first-half, although it was the visitors soon moving in the opposite direction and forcing a couple of timely blocks from David McGurk and Djoumin Sangare.
And they were rewarded for that kind of enterprise when Gittings’ corner from the left was completely misjudged by Ingham and the ball somehow found its way into the far corner of the net.
It could have been even worse a couple of minutes later after a long ball forward was missed by McGurk and Lee Morris sidefooted tamely at Ingham.
The Minstermen responded with Chris Carruthers rapidly surging down the left, but Michael Gash took too long to sort out his feet and the chance was gone.
On the back of six successive victories during pre-season Kidderminster were continuing to appear neat in their approach work around the home area, and it required a great saving challenge from Levi Mackin to keep out Jack Byrne after being set-up by Keith Briggs.
Then in a virtual repeat of the opening goal another Gittings corner drifted agonisingly wide of the far post with Ingham once again a total spectator.
That appeared to finally wake the hosts up and Alex Lawless had a stinging shot turned behind by Daniel Lewis before Brodie’s right-footed half-volley was blocked after decent work from Danny Parslow.
The Minstermen were continuing to look uncertain at the back as McPhee sent an attempt straight at Ingham, while Brodie’s sharp turn in reply finished with a left-footed strike that went directly to Lewis just before the break.
Danger-man Brodie was also close to an equaliser early in the second period when dragging another left-footed effort wide after smart work from Peter Till – who had replaced the injured Mackin late in the first-half.
Dave Hankin then chipped over at the opposite end following a progressive run inside before Brodie wasted another great chance as unopposed he headed over Parslow’s cross.
Sixty seconds later and Gash’s snapshot was well held by Lewis after determined work from the impressive James Meredith had allowed Till to provide the cross.
The home faithful were growing increasingly anxious as another chance came and went when Lawless’ corner was headed invitingly back across the face of goal by McGurk – but there wasn’t anybody there to take advantage.
Former Welsh under-21 international Lawless was doing his level best to prompt his side from his revised central position, and he had a firm right-footed attempt parried by Lewis before delivering a corner that was glanced wide by McGurk.
But York were appearing increasingly desperate as the clock ticked down and debutant Jonathan Smith screwed a speculative effort well off-target before they finally received the break they needed when substitute Rankine was brought down inside the area.
And after Rankine had taken possession of the ball despite concerted protestations from regular penalty taker Brodie, it was the former Rushden & Diamonds striker who drove his finish firmly beyond Lewis to equalise.
However, the home side again appeared intent on self-destruction when their opponents broke quickly towards the other end, where Courtney took out McPhee and allowed Shaw to claim maximum points from the spot, despite the best efforts of Ingham to atone for his earlier mistake.
The game then ended with Rankine involved in his second heated argument of the afternoon, this time with Courtney, before Sangare stepped in to promote a little peace on a very disappointing opening afternoon.
York City: Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, Sangare (Courtney 76), Meredith, Lawless, Mackin (Till 38), Smith, Carruthers (Rankine 65), Gash, Brodie
subs (unused): Purcell, Barrett
Goals: Rankine (pen 86)
Kidderminster Harriers: Lewis, Williams, Albrighton, Briscoe, Shaw, Hankin (Griffiths 87), Briggs, McPhee, Byrne, Gittings (Blair 75), Morris (Wright 46)
subs (unused): Stevens, Sharpe
Goals: Gittings (10), Shaw (pen 89)
Ref: J. Collin (Merseyside)
Att: 2,682 (177 Kidderminster)
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