HARRIERS suffered yet more misery at the hands of Chorley after being soundly beaten 3-0 at Victory Park.

It was a horrid day that got off to the most terrible of starts when Wilson converted after just three minutes.

Chorley extended their lead with two further goals in the second half without really having to get out of second gear - Wilson sweeping home the second before Caver slammed in a third.

Harriers - whose closest chances came through McAlinden and Ironside - never looked like wrestling back the score, and went home empty handed.

The first half, for large parts, was even enough - though it didn't look that way from the off; Carver almost scoring after two minutes before Wilson actually did - a long ball lofted over the heads of the Harriers back line and into the striker's path; he did the rest and tucked it low, past Hall.

Harriers attempted to respond through McAlinden whose tenth-minute shot was held, but Hall was the busier keeper throughout, tipping wide Newby's free-kick with a quarter-hour played.

Austin almost grabbed a rare goal with a low shot Urwin saved, while Williams almost finished off a great team move only for the stopper to smother his effort. In between, Carver blazed over the bar at close range.

Hall was in truly exceptional form before the break as he twice denied Leather - the first effort looked a nailed-on goal before the stopper clawed away the header.

After the restart, Newby quickly extended Hall once again before one of the best chances of the day for Harriers saw Ironside chest and fire at Urwin, who stood up well and held on to the ball.

Harriers would pay for that miss as, within the space of five minutes after the hour, Chorley put the game to bed. Carver, while magnificent, was all too comfortable in finding room out wide to poke a low cross over to Wilson who ran on to it and eased the ball beyond Hall. Just after, a long ball over the top was watched down by Carver who, despite the attentions of two defenders, was able to fire it beyond Hall, the ball bouncing off the bar and over the line.

Harriers did go close to grabbing a goal back on 72 minutes as Horsfall got up well at a free-kick and saw a header clawed away by Urwin, but Chorley always looked the more likely to add to the score; Hooper and Newby missing the target when well placed late on.

Three minutes of added time failed to yield anything to warm the 100 or so Harriers fans who made the long journey up, the final whistle signalling the start of their miserable journey back home.

Manager Mark Yates is was pleased with Harriers reaction in the last two matches as they head North once again on Saturday.

Harriers travel to face second-place side Chorley at Victory Park, a 3pm kick off.

The match follows a run of three matches in a hectic seven day period - a frustrating 3-3 draw against Blyth Spartans was followed by a victory on the road against Ashton United, and an Aggborough win against Nuneaton Borough.

Yates stated how pleased he was with the attitude of his players following the Blyth draw, where Harriers conceded twice late in the game.

Against Nuneaton, attacker Ashley Chambers netted a hat-trick to end a goalless run, and Yates was particularly pleased that the 29-year-old's hard work was rewarded.

"Following the five disappointing final minutes at Blyth, the lads have responded brilliantly - a tough away trip at Ashton, which is tougher than people imagine," said Yates.

"...We're going up there with no fear, we've just got to go up there and perform..." Mark Yates

"Going up there on a Tuesday night after what had happened, the lads' attitude was brilliant and the performance was solid and strong - which is what you need sometimes when you go away from home.

"We went into the following Saturday's game knowing that it was going to be tough, knowing that Nuneaton had nothing to lose - they're not as bad as their league position is and they were really going to try and ruffle our feathers.

"I thought in the first half, bar conceding the goal, we were excellent and in the second half, we knew that if we just kept going and kept believing in what we were doing then the win would come.

"From the day I walked in, Chambo hasn't had the rewards for the hard work that he's put in, but all I've said to him from day one is 'keep doing it and your luck will change'".

Chorley currently sit just two points behind current leaders Stockport County, and represent a tough challenge for Harriers.

However, Yates is confident that Harriers are more than capable of returning to Worcestershire with a result.

"We've got different challenges and we've got to meet them, the Chorley game is the most important game of our season because it's our next -  we approached the Nuneaton game that way and will with this one," said Yates.

"We respect the season that they're having and to be up there and fighting for the title - they deserve massive credit for that.

"We're going up there with no fear, we've just got to go up there and perform, work harder than them, be clinical, keep a clean sheet or at least defend properly.

"If we do that, then we can beat anyone in this league".

Heading into the weekend, midfielder Declan Weeks remains a doubt due a knee injury sustained against Chester, while Liam Truslove (hamstring) is also unlikely to feature.

WATCH: Mark Yates' full pre-match video interview by clicking the video tab above.