Kidderminster Harriers paid the price for a poor first half performance as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Stevenage.

Rocked by the news that defender Luke Jones was recalled by parent club Shrewsbury en route to Broadhall Way, Harriers started with Gavin Hurren in the back four.

After a dreadful start to the game by both sides Stevenage were gifted the opening goal on 13 minutes; Hurren was caught fast-asleep in possession by Stevenage's top-goalscorer Steve MORISON who one-on-one with Chris Mackenzie finished well.

The fluid passing and team-work that had got the visitors their last two wins seemed to have deserted the side with Morison twice getting in on goal before the end of the half.

For Harriers there was just Matthew Barnes-Homer's drive across the face of goal to count just before the half hour mark.

Harriers started the second half as a completely different side, with the words of boss Mark Yates ringing in their ears.

Within five minutes of the re-start the scores were levelled as a persistent Iyseden CHRISTIE got his rewards defeating defenders in the area, eventually finishing whilst on the floor.

On 70 minutes sloppy defending was to cost Harriers dearly. Just after Mackenzie had pulled off a fine save from Callum Willock ; Gavin GRANT was given the freedom of Broadhall Way, running from the half-way line before firing a ball goalwards that crashed in to the back of the net off a luckless Mark Creighton.

To their credit Harriers pushed everything forward in search of an equaliser, Dean Bennett firing wide from outside the area.

In the final minute of normal time, only the woodwork denied Harriers, Simon Russell's great curling effort crashing off the frame of the goal.

With the game in injury time, Barnes-Homer forced a last ditch save from Alan Julian in the home-goal - the ball fell to Christie who was only missing the final finish.

The Post-Match thoughts of the Harriers Camp will appear on harriers.co.uk tomorrow - Harriers are next in action in the Worcester Senior Cup on Monday 17th March at Worcester City (7.45pm)