A MISSED penalty from Dean Keates and a first half lead thrown away was enough to end Harriers' unbeaten run of six games with a defeat to Mansfield at Aggborough.

Harriers made two changes to the side that beat Darlington at the weekend with Stuart Watkiss resting Blair Sturrock in favour of Mark Rawle, and Tom Bennett replacing the suspended Lee Jenkins.

Harriers almost got off to a dream start when an intelligent headed pass from Chris Beardsley found John McGrath in space inside the penalty area. However the Irishman fired his volley across the goalmouth and away to safety.

Mark Rawle - opening goal

The visitors had a fantastic opportunity to take the lead when former Harriers man Simon Brown raced clear of the Harriers back line. Faced with just John Danby to beat, he fired a low drive which Danby did well to beat away.

However the deadlock was broken on 41 minutes when Harriers took the lead against the run of play. A neat interception by Tom Bennett allowed him to feed RAWLE into space, and the striker made no mistake with a clinical left footed drive.

Seconds later Harriers had the opportunity to go further ahead when they were awarded a penalty. Beardsley, playing against his former club, latched onto a bouncing ball inside the penalty before being clattered to the floor by Mansfield keeper Kevin Pilkington with the goal at his mercy.  Match referee Lee Probert made no hesitation in pointing at the spot but then amazingly only showed a yellow card to the Mansfield shot-stopper.

Keates then stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way but rolled the ball the wrong side of the post.

Half-time: Harriers 1 - 0 Mansfield

Harriers had a great opportunity to add to the score line almost immediately after the re-start when an error by Pilkington allowed Beardsley to win possession inside the Mansfield penalty area. However Beardsley couldn't capitalise and the chance went begging.

However Mansfield pulled level on 48 minutes. Racing clear of Harriers' defence, Richie BARKER took the ball on and fired the ball past Danby despite the best intentions of the back-tracking Wayne Hatswell.

Iyseden Christie - goal ruled out

Three minutes later Mansfield added a second. In a similar move that led to Mansfield's first goal BROWN, looking suspiciously offside, raced towards goal before rifling a low drive past Danby at the near post. This was Brown's first goal for Mansfield.

Harriers threw on Iyseden Christie and Simon Russell as they looked to drag themselves back into the game. McGrath was unlucky with an effort that was blocked en-route to goal, whilst the same man saw his volley later fly inches wide of the target minutes later.

Harriers thought they had reduced the deficit with 15 minutes remaining when Christie stabbed the ball over the line from close range. However the referee pulled play back for an alleged foul by Beardsley on Pilkington.

Harriers' hopes of a comeback were crushed with just five minutes when Mansfield added a third. A right wing corner from Adam Rundle found BARKER inside the penalty area and he headed the ball into the back of the net.

It was a disappointing end to a disappointing afternoon as Watkiss battle-weary troops trudged disconsolately from the field. Despite the defeat, Harriers remain only two points behind Rushden and Diamonds and six behind Shrewsbury Town.  With six games remaining, it's all still veryt much to play for.

Full-time: Harriers 1 - 3 Mansfield

 Post-match report courtesy of BBC Hereford & Worcester available HERE. 

Kidderminster: Danby, Weaver, Mullins, Jackson, Hatswell (Birch 83), Cozic (Russell 70), Bennett, Keates, McGrath, Beardsley, Rawle (Christie 57).
Subs Not Used: Lewis, Jones.

Mansfield: Pilkington, Neil (Day 45), Buxton, Baptiste, McNiven, Brown, Coke, McLachlan, Lloyd (Barrowman 45), Rundle, Barker.
Subs Not Used: White, McIntosh, Herron.

Att: 3,237 (345 away fans)

Referee: Lee Probert (Gloucestershire).

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