Kidderminster Harriers finally got their first win of the season, and in some style, with a thumping 4-0 victory over Altrincham at Aggborough.

Skipper Mark Creighton got the rout underway in the first-half before Justin Richards made it four goals in as many games with the second from the penalty spot.

Martin Brittain added a quality third before substitute Brian Smikle struck an early contender for Goal of the Season to round off the scoring.

Mark Yates made sweeping changes before the game with no fewer than five new faces in the starting XI - Brittain was amongst those, replacing the departing Simon Russell in midfield, and it was the former Yeovil man's superb performance who helped the hosts on their way.

He claimed an assist for the first goal - whipping in a deadly ball from a free-kick that CREIGHTON rose to head beyond Stuart Coburn with just six minutes on the clock.

A little over ten minutes later, David McDermott - also making his first start of the season - played in Richards whose shot was blocked.

On 19 minutes the visiting defence opened up in front of Matthew Barnes-Homer, but the young striker couldn't make them pay for it as he dragged his shot just wide.

Six minutes later things went a little crazy - Creighton must've fancied himself in front of goal as he took the ball down well and fired a shot that Coburn saved brilliantly - the defender quickly fired another shot towards goal that was blocked by the hand of Alty defender Chris Lane. Lane's stop was spotted by the referee who instantly awarded a penalty and sent off the former Southport player.

Once all the fuss died down, RICHARDS stepped up and planted an unstoppable spot-kick into Coburn's top right corner.

Six minutes before the break Altrincham will feel they should have pulled a goal back, but Greg Young failed to get good enough contact on Colin Little's cross.

Just a couple of minutes after the re-start, Harriers had good efforts to further extend their lead, with Lee Baker and Barnes-Homer going close, before on 54 minutes, Alty skipper Robbie Lawton lashed through a crowd of bodies in the area - his effort going just off target.

How Harriers didn't greet the hour mark with a third goal is a mystery - first Andy Ferrell blasted a great effort at goal that Coburn powerfully fisted away. Richards got to the re-bound but crashed it against the angle of post and bar, whilst just afterwards Barnes-Homer put wide when half of Aggborough was sure he'd found the back of the net.

On 70 minutes, though, that deserved third goal arrived and it capped a wonderful afternoon for Brittain. McDermott's shot had been blocked just outside of the area and the ball fell at the feet of BRITTAIN who curled a sublime effort round the bodies of those in the area, and round Coburn's fingertips.

The hosts thoroughly deserved to win today's game but the score line was harsh on Coburn, who was easily the visitor's best player. Ten minutes further on, he was again down quickly to pull off a smart save, this time at the feet of sub Darryl Knights.

With just six minutes to go, the shot-stopper could do nothing about conceding his fourth of the day. SMIKLE was played in superbly by Russell Penn's ball, and waited for Coburn to advance before chipping an angled finish from at least 18 yards into the back of the net.