“Congratulations to Kidderminster who were brilliant today,” Gaz Dean said. “Only 50% of our team were at their normal levels today and I can’t account for that. But you can’t make mistakes as we did for the first goal against a good team like this and get away with it. They did the basics better than us and they dominated in the defensive third. This is a fantastic community football club with a fantastic feel about it and I am just disappointed that we couldn’t do it for them today.”

After Brackley made a strong start when Shep Murombedzi’s stinging drive was tipped over and Kidderminster cleared a scrambled effort off the line, Harriers punished a defensive mix up to go ahead through Ashley Hemmings on 13 minutes and it was Hemmings who doubled the lead on the hour, again the result of poor defending.

The visitors were largely content to manage the game as Brackley struggled to regain an edge and Kidderminster were comfortable in recording a ninth straight win to finish the season with promotion back to the National League after a seven season absence. The defeat leaves a frustrated Saints side unable to hit the heights of last week’s winning performance at Chester and falling at the final hurdle.

Brackley Town: Lewis, Carline, Calder, Murombedzi, Walker, Cullinane-Liburd (York 74), Matwasa, Bates, Robinson (Amantchi 63), Stead, Richards (Armson 63). Subs unused: Rooney, Smart.

Kidderminster Harriers: Dibble, Penny, Richards, Pearce, Morgan-Smith (Knight-Percival 90), Hemmings, Foulkes, Brown, Morrison, Byrne, Leesley. Subs unused: Palmer, Lissimore, Bearne, Hall.

Referee: John Mulligan Assistants: Simon Robinson and Francis Sibley 4th Official: David McNamara

Attendance: 3015

PIC: By Pete Keen