Harsh lesson for Kidderminster Harriers

Their disappointing defeat came just four days after opening their campaign with a crushing 6-1 win at Curzon Ashton.

The Saints began their first ever league meeting with Harriers by producing on-target efforts from Steve Diggin and James Armson which were dealt with by goalkeeper Sam Hornby, who moved from Brackley to Aggborough during the summer while remaining a loan player from Burton Albion.

Shortly afterwards a loose pass by former Hednesford Town striker Diggin was pounced on by Elton Ngwatala who pulled the trigger on a 30-yard drive which was not far off the mark.

The visitors took the lead in the 36th minute when Armson blasted home a penalty which was awarded when Jordan Tunnicliffe tripped Ellis Myles just inside the area.

Harriers had a good chance to equalise shortly before half-time when recent capture Mani Dieseruvwe hooked the ball over the bar from close range after the opportunity had been created by Jared Hodgkiss.

Watched by a crowd of 1,446, including 51 travelling fans, the second half opened with Brackley almost stretching their lead when Hornby did well to keep out a Gareth Dean header following a corner by Armson. The effort was finally cleared off the line by Zaine Francis-Angol.

The visitors were unlucky not to make it 2-0 on 55 minutes when a cross from Glen Walker was headed against the foot of a post by Armson

But they finally broke through again on 74 minutes when a Glen Walker corner evaded Hornby to enable Alex Gudger to bundle the ball over the line.

Harriers reduced the deficit three minute later when Tyrell Waite drilled in a penalty after he had been fouled just inside the box by Dean.

But the lesson for new Harriers management team John Eustace and Matt Gardiner is this campaign may not be as straightforward as Saturday's demolition job might have suggested.