INJURY-HIT Harriers slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Brackley Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

After the high of the win over Alfreton just days before, the team news for the Brackley game brought Harriers crashing back down to the earth.

Marksman Joe Ironside was missing through injury, as was the influential Dan Bradley.

Joel Taylor joined the already-injured Liam Truslove on the treatment table, leaving a depleted Harriers side unable to name a full compliment on a bench that featured goalkeeping cover in the form of former Watford youngster Charlie Bannister.

Kennedy Digie and Andre Brown were among those drafted into a new-look starting line-up, but Harriers found themselves quickly under a spell of first-half pressure that they never truly managed to shake; the trio of Williams, Gudger and Ndlovu being the tormentors in chief as they set about a beleaguered Harriers side.

Hall’s smart handling and reactions ensured that nothing really came of those early chances, while Gareth Dean took aim with an attempted lob that nestled just over the target.

The breakthrough did come, though, three shy of the half-hour mark as Shane Byrne was able to curl in a great delivery that an unchecked Undlovu diverted past the goalkeeper at close range. In fact, it really should have been two in as a many minutes for the Saints and only a goal-line clearance from Daly stopped that from happening.

Andre Brown’s tame header at the other end came before the break but even that was adrift of the target, leaving boss Eustace with little choice but to ring the changes at the interval with Nti and Webb thrust on.

Within a minute, Sonupe’s deflected shot at least gave the side a boost, the hosts then hitting back with a big chance from which Armson could only shoot at Hall.

Sonupe did remain a threat for Harriers but in the absence of any concrete chances, Harriers were punished with a second on 67 minutes when Armson nodded in a looping header.

Though the visitors tried to rally, the hosts saw the game out comfortably enough.

HARRIERS: Hall, Williams, Keane (Webb 46), Croasdale, Williams, Daly, Digie (Nti 46), Austin, McQuilkin, Brown, Ngwatala (Weeks 63), Sonupe.

Not used: Bannister Attendance: 690 Referee: Anthony Tankard