United bowed out of the FA Trophy at the quarter final stage as Kidderminster made progress at their expense. Matt Green's second half strike was sandwiched between goals from Brian Smikle and Rob Matthews to leave United free to concentrate on the league.

After collecting  a defeat and a draw against the Harriers in the league United did all they could to complete the set in the opening exchanges and saw an Adam Chapman drive spilled by keeper Ross Atkins before a stinging Simon Clist effort from the edge of the box forced the on-loan Derby debutant to make another good save on nine minutes.

Kidderminster survived that scare and then took the lead on 16 minutes from a United corner! Jamie Cook's low kick was cut out and played wide and within three passes Dean Bennett was racing away down the right with United in hot pursuit. His pass was deadly accurate and Brain Smikle was on hand to finish neatly at the near post despite Billy Turley's best efforts.

There were then two decent headed chances, one at either end, which Spencer and Creighton both nodded just off target but in an open game there was plenty to admire as both teams looked to pass the ball around and play decent football. One or two intricate United moves were very easy on the eye with out having the final pass while ironically Constable almost found the equaliser out of nothing as his spectacular overhead kick on 37 minutes flashed over the bar.

The first 45 minutes had been a war of attrition and to try and open the flanks up United threw on the raw pace of Ashley Cain for a debut at half time after signing on loan from Coventry 24 hours earlier. The young winger showed encouraging signs on the right and a willingness to come inside and try and exploit any space in behind the resolute Harriers' defence.

Despite dominating possession and penning their opponents in United couldn't quite find that little bit of guile and always looked as though they were wary of committing too many men forward and leaving themselves vulnerable to a Harriers counter.

What they needed was a piece of luck or something brave and on 65 they got a little of both. Creighton's long ball was flicked on by Constable to allow Green to race with Martin Riley. Green made the the life of Riley a misery and as keeper Atkins came out the striker stuck his head in where it hurts to nod the ball past him to gain a clear run and the easiest of his eleven goals this season.

One each and with the crowd getting behind their team United saw Cain thump a shot just wide from the edge of the box on 70 and it remained anyone's game as Oxford stuck with four men up front and gambled on  coping with Kidderminster's fast breaks. Sadly the gamble didn't pay off.

With time running out it was the Harriers who found the winning strike. Smikle wriggled clear on their right wing and showed good composure to tee up Matthews six yards out and with the goal at his mercy. His shot found the roof of the net and United were out of the Trophy.

It's funny how things change. Today was all about aiming for Wembley. Tuesday night against Wimbledon will be all about striving to avoid the same venue.

 Oxford: Turley, Batt, Creighton, Wright, Sandwith, Chapman, Bulman, Clist (Deering 62), Cook (Cain 46), M Green, Constable

Subs: Clarke, Day, Hargreaves

Kidderminster

Atkins, Courtney, Baker, Finnigan, Caines, Riley, McPhee, Bennett (Bignot 66), Knights (Matthews 75), Smikle, Spencer

Subs

Singh, Hadley, Sharpe,

Ref: B. Malone

Att: 3,358

Away: 417

Fifty/50 winning number: 77034 (£779.50)

Report by Chris Williams