THREE second half goals by title-chasing Bristol Rovers stunned battling Harriers.

The Reds had more than matched their rivals in the first period, who are striving to win the league this season.

But a brace for Ellis Harrison and one for Matty Taylor after the break stunned the hosts.

Manager Gary Whild welcomed back striker Lee Hughes, who had missed the draw at Telford because of illness.

He also handed on-loan Huddersfield man Will Boyle a debut because of injuries to Jack Byrne, Aman Verma and Kennedy Digie.

With Rovers' 2,669 away army out numbering the home fans, the game felt like an away tie for Harriers but a competitive first half performance silenced the raucous Gas support.

Rovers gave a start to striker Nathan Blissett, who joined Bristol on loan in November and made his move permanent in Janaury.

Kidderminster made a good start and Hughes shot wide in the second minute.

With Bristol needing a win to keep up the pressure on leaders Barnet, the game developed into an end-to-end affair.

Blissett wasted a good chance to score against his former club in the tenth minute but steered a good cross from Harrison wide at the near post.

Jake Green fashioned a goal-scoring chance for the home side in the 18th minute but steered his firmly hit 20-yard effort at keeper Will Puddy.

Rovers looked dangerous on the counter-attack and carved out another good opportunity in the 24th.

With just keeper Danny Lewis to beat, Adam Dawson crossed but could not find Blissett, who needed just a touch to score.

Kidderminster were still in the game and several chances fell to Hughes.

In the 33rd minute, the striker pounced on Danny Wright's flick-on but could not steer the ball beyond Puddy as he rushed out of goal.

Harrison looked Bristol's most dangerous player and he saw a low effort diverted wide by Lewis in the 35th minute.

Harriers' keeper was having a busy end to the half and he tipped a Blissett header onto the bar.

The keeper the spilled a Harrison header before recovering well under pressure from Andy Monkhouse.

Rovers then failed to deal with Callum Gittings' free-kick but veteran goal-getter Hughes put a difficult first time effort off target.

Bristol defender Tom Parkes and Green picked up bookings late in the first half.

Lewis then denied Monkhouse on the stroke of half-time.

But the visitors took the lead in the 50th minute when Harrison powered home a header from Chris Lines' free-kick.

The goal prompted a sustained period of pressure as Rovers looked to pile the pressure on the home defence.

The wasteful Blissett fired over from the edge of the box on the hour mark.

Defender Nat Kelly clumsily challenged Harrison as he powered into the box but the referee did not signal for a penalty, much to the dismay of the away fans.

Harriers continued to soak up the pressure but Blissett should have done better in the 70th minute when he headed over from a Lee Brown cross.

The home defence continued to live dangerously when Harrison was given time to direct a scissor kick wide.

Akwasi Asante replaced Lee Hughes in the 72nd minute but the hosts were struggling to get back into the game.

But an error by the normally reliable Jared Hodgkiss allowed Harrison to chase down the defender's chested pass back and beat Lewis to slide it home.

Substitute Matty Taylor then rubbed salt into Harriers' wounds in the 90th with a header from a Lines corner.

A section of home fans staged a protest after the game had finished in in frustration at the club's money problems this season.

Harriers: Lewis, Hodgkiss, Green (Obeng, 66), Fry, Kelly, Boyle, Wright, Grimes, Gittings, Maxwell, Hughes (Asante, 72).

Subs not used: Nicholson, Spencer, Forsyth.

Bristol: Puddy, Lockyer, McChrsytal, Parkes, Brown, Dawson, Lines (Clarke, 92), Mansell, Monkhouse, Harrison (Taylor, 85), Blissett.

Subs not used: Mildenhall, Leadbitter, Gosling.

Referee: Simon Bennett (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 4229 (2619)