HARRIERS battled back from two straight defeats in style this afternoon to beat high-flying Grays Athletic at Aggborough with a superb performance.

The men from Aggborough were tormented by Grays on their own turf last season but there was no sign of that this afternoon. Debutant Reuben Reid capped a fine first start for Harriers after signing on loan from Plymouth with a goal after 15 minutes, Iyseden Christie's penalty cancelled out Aaron McLean's equaliser later on.

Athletic are without a doubt one of the league's purest footballing sides, but even they were given a lesson or two today with another debutant in Paul Bignot doing well in defence - Michael Blackwood put in a sparkling performance too.

Grays had the first chance of the afternoon when Michael Kightly's free-kick had to be tipped around the post by Scott Bevan, but Harriers signalled their intentions for the day with Gavin Hurren's effort that went close on 14 minutes.

Within 16 seconds the home side had taken the lead - a smart move almost from nothing saw Christie play the ball to Bignot who slipped a neat ball into the feet of Reid who turned his man well just inside the area before shooting through the goalkeeper's legs with a fine finish.

Three minutes later Simon Russell came very close when 'keeper Ashley Bayes needed to tip his dipping cross around the post- but Grays must have thought it was Christmas come early with their equaliser gifted to them on 27 minutes.

Hotshot McLean saw Bevan some way off his line and, after receiving a ball that fooled the Harriers defence, tried his luck with a lob from close to 30 yards that the 'keeper had no chance of catching as it bounced into the net.

It would have been all too easy for home heads to have dropped but they did not - and Harriers did well to withstand Grays' only real spell of pressure, McLean beat the offside trap just after the half hour mark but was denied by Bevan who made amends with a good low save.

11 minutes before the break the visitors wasted a perfect chance to take the lead, Glenn Poole left Stuart Whitehead scrambling as he whipped in a cross to the head of Lee Boylan who sent a free header crashing wide of the target.

Seven minutes after the break it was McLean in action again as he forced Bevan to save his shot, propelling it high into the air, the dominant Blackwood was there to clear the danger with a header.

On 59 minutes Harriers were awarded a penalty when Bignot's fine ball was intercepted blatantly by the hand of Andy Sambrook; Iyseden Christie - at the second attempt after a retake - blasted home the spot-kick to leave Grays reeling and the home fans in delight.

From there Grays' only real attacking threat came from a disheartened McLean who was restricted to shots from distance that failed to trouble Bevan.

Harriers meanwhile had two good chances to add to their lead, eight minutes before the end, substitute Smikle shot into the diving Bayes after being played in beautifully by Christie, whilst with four minutes to go Hurren's long-range effort needed a smart save.

Harriers: Bevan, Hurren, Creighton, Whitehead, Blackwood, Russell, McGrath (Smikle 74), Penn, Bignot (Sedgemore 90), Christie, Reid (White 82).

Subs not used: S. Taylor, Reynolds.

Grays: Bayes, Sambrook, Stuart, Smith (Sangare 83), Kightly, Nicholls, Williamson, Poole, Slabber, McLean, Boylan (Martin 59)

Subs not used: Knowles, Turner, Green.

Attendance: 1,316 (28 away fans)