This last-gasp win will have gone down well with the Burton Albion players in the away dressing room at Kidderminster Harriers.

The Brewers management sat on the bench, though, will likely have been more pleased with the workout their side were given against the National League North outfit in a hard-fought friendly clash at Aggborough.

Albion had to battle back from a goal down at half-time to claim the 2-1 triumph, with Joe Sbarra's second goal in as many pre-season matches cancelling out Ed Williams' opener for the hosts.

It left trialist Luke McCormick to claim the winning the goal, calmly finishing into an empty net after Matty Lund's well-delivered cross - something Burton were unable to recreate for long spells on the night - caused panic in the hosts' penalty area.

Damien McCrory in action for Burton Albion in the pre-season friendly at Kidderminster Harriers

A first victory of the summer will be one the Brewers hope to build on over the coming fortnight, with Nigel Clough keen to see his side rediscover that knack of winning before the proper stuff gets underway on August 4.

But a run-out of this intensity for almost the entirety of his squad - plus a few others - will have been the most valuable thing to Clough, because the Harriers really did stretch their League One visitors at times, and their willingness to play made for an open and entertaining contest.

While Albion retained the 4-1-4-1 shape from Friday's defeat at Mickleover Sports, there were switches throughout the starting XI - inevitable at this stage of pre-season.

Stephen Bywater began in goal, behind a back four of John Brayford - also in for his first outing of the summer - Tomas Egert, Jake Buxton and Damien McCrory.

Ben Fox was the deep-lying midfielder, with Elliott Hodge partnering Scott Fraser centrally.

Marvin Sordell and Lucas Akins were the starting wingers again - and again they switched flanks halfway through the opening 45 - with Liam Boyce leading the line.

A little bit of sluggishness is natural in pre-season - it would show at times for Burton at regular intervals at Aggborough - but there would have been real disappointment even so if they had succumbed to Kidderminster's first chance inside 30 seconds.

Right-back Lee Vaughan latched onto a fine diagonal pass to get in behind McCrory and float a cross to the back post, where a Harriers trialist could not quite latch on to head home.

That was a symbol of the intent with which Kidderminster looked to play against their higher-league visitors.

Ben Fox tussles for possession in Burton Albion's pre-season friendly at Kidderminster Harriers

Burton's early intensity came through Fraser and Hodge, with the latter looking to catch the eye in his second game on trial with Clough's side.

Despite primarily being a winger, the ex-Notts County man was again placed more centrally, where he was tasked with getting on the ball and running at the Kidderminster back line.

It was Albion's defence, though, that would be breached first, as Williams struck inside 14 minutes.

The goal was not a pretty one from the Brewers perspective, with Williams picking up possession and running at a retreating Burton backline before unleashing a low shot that nestled inside the righthand post of Bywater, who was stood stranded.

Clough's side looked to respond, and they had enough ball to do so.

But too often, a sloppiness crept in at the crucial moment, when a quality delivery or a calm head was needed. Sordell, Akins, McCrory and Fox all misplaced key passes in good positions.

It occurred at both ends. Hodge was caught on the ball in his own half by Declan Weeks, who nicked possession and ran through.

Under the attentions of the retreating Hodge and Bywater, though, the danger was cleared.

Albion did threaten a leveller before the break, with Boyce watching a low Akins cross skid agonisingly past his despairing dive, before a dipping effort from Sordell was parried behind by Brandon Hall.

Just like at Mickleover on Friday night, though, it took until moments inside the second half for Burton to find the net.

Liam Boyce celebrates with Joe Sbarra after Sbarra's goal against Kidderminster Harriers

The source of the goal was identical, too.

Sbarra was introduced as one of three half-time substitutes, with Jamie Allen and Kyle McFadzean also coming on to replace Buxton, Brayford and Fox.

A clever piece of anticipation got Sbarra his second goal in as many games.

The Burton academy graduate was the quickest to an underhit pass in the Kidderminster midfield, and he weaved his way past the last man before lifting a composed finish past Hall.

More chances followed, with Fraser and Hodge both firing off-target after tidy build-up play.

Further reinforcements followed, including the introduction of Darren Bent, part of the squad after training with Burton following his release by Derby County in May as he looks to stay fit while considering his next move.

The ex-England international almost latched onto a Sbarra through-ball, only for his touch to allow Hall to race out and collect.

The game, inevitably, opened up as time wore down, with a raft of changes on either side seeing a loss of shape from both.

Matty Lund, Marcus Harness, Reece Hutchinson, McCormick, Harry Campbell and first-year academy scholar Tom Armitage all got run outs.

Marcus Harness breaks forward for Burton Albion

Harness came close to a winner when he arrowed a shot towards the far corner from a central position, drawing a good save from Harriers' substitute keeper.

Campbell was barely tested at the other end, gratefully clutching a weak Ashley Chambers header in a rare Kidderminster attack.

Part of that was down to a strong showing by Egert at centre-half, who looked composed throughout and improved on his display at full-back from four days previously.

It seemed that a lack of a clinical delivery in the final third would see this game finish as a draw.

But with two minutes remaining, trialist McCormick benefited from a tantalising cross from Lund on the right to slot home the winning goal, after the Harriers' susbtitute keeper could only punch it out to the ex-Nottingham Forest forward.

Former Nottingham Forest forward Luke McCormick grabbed the late winner for Albion
Former Nottingham Forest forward Luke McCormick grabbed the late winner for Albion

It should be noted, too, that McCormick's driving run down the left initiated the move in the build-up to Lund's delivery.

A 2-1 defeat and a 2-1 victory so far, then, for Albion in pre-season - but the results are largely immaterial.

As much as Clough wants his side to rediscover that winning touch before Rochdale on August 4, it is the intensity of this game which will have pleased the Albion boss.

It will have tested his players' fitness and, at times, their resilience against a Kidderminster side who played with real tempo for much of proceedings.

The benefits will hopefully tell when they return to the Pirelli Stadium for the first time this summer to take on Aston Villa on Saturday.