Stafford Rangers 1 Kidderminsters 3

JEKYLL and Hyde Harriers turned the tables on wasteful Stafford to grab their first win in the Blue Square Premier Division on Tuesday night.

It was clear new-look Harriers are still finding their feet at this early stage of the season as they produced contrasting performances at Marston Road.

Mark Yates' team looked nervous and tentative and allowed a bright Stafford side to control the first half and carve out a bucket load of scoring chances.

If the home side had converted their opportunities it may have been game over but credit must go to Harriers, who showed resilience to boss the second half and take their chances when they came about.

Striker Justin Richards also opened his account for the Aggborough side with a brace which will do the pacey hitman's confidence no end of good.

Yates kept faith with most of the players from Saturday's game against Aldershot but shuffled the deck by bringing in midfielder Michael McGrath and defender Jon Munday, while Gavin Hurren re-acquainted himself with Russ Penn in midfield.

But Harriers started slugglishly and the home side almost capitalised.

Striker Neil Grayson powered past Jeff Kenna in the second minute but shot across the face of goal to let Harriers off the hook.

Paul Bignot made a good challenge as French midfielder Sebastian Arnolin drove into the penalty area in the opening minutes.

Grayson was Stafford's worst offender for spurning good chances but he almost embarrassed Harriers' normally reliable keeper Scot Bevan in the 20th minute.

The striker sped past Munday as he chased a long ball and as the keeper belatedly came out he knocked it past him.

Luckily for Harriers by the time the hitman found his composure Bevan was able to recover and save Grayson's close range effort.

Harriers scored completely against the run of play in the 26th minute when the lively Brian Smikle powered into the box and delivered a dangerous low cross that Richards bundled into the back of the net.

Stunned Stafford almost hit back immediately when David McNiven played in Grayson but once again the striker shot across Bevan's goal.

Russ Penn led a rare Harriers attack and set up Gavin Hurren for a shot from the edge of the penalty area, which deflected off defender Djoumin Sangare and wide of the left hand post.

Grayson spurned another chance when he headed Matthew Hazely's excellent cross from the left over just before half time.

But Harriers conceded a goal in the final minute of the half. Bignot could only clear Sangare's corner to Arnolin and the midfielder rifled a low curling shot past a despairing Bevan.

The goal could have deflated the visitors but they came out looking more determined after no doubt being given a rocket by the manager.

Smikle powered into the box but his attempted chip was a fraction too high in the 47th minute.

The impressive McNiven was proving a handful and he set up Arnolin in the 62nd minute but Bevan was equal to his rising shot.

James Constable, who worked hard throughout, did well to hold off Sangare a minute later and test keeper Danny Alcock from close range.

But Hurren taught Stafford a lesson in finishing in the 64th minute. Smikle galloped to the edge of the box and slipped the ball to the midfielder, who fired into the left corner.

Grayson had two chances to score as Stafford pushed for an equaliser, heading Hazley's cross over the bar and firing in a fierce free-kick that Bevan did well to hold in the 80th minute.

But Richards made the game safe for Harriers, after he was barged over by Sangare in the 84th minute, by coolly dispatched the penalty into the bottom right hand corner.

Harriers: Bevan 6, Kenna 6, Hurren 7, Creighton 6, Constable 7 (Christie, 80mins, 6), Penn 6, Richards 7 (Barnes-Homer, 89mins), SMIKLE 8, McGrath 5 (Ferrell, 73mins, 6), Munday 6, Bignot 6.

Stafford: Alcock, Sutton, McAughtrie, Daniels, Sangare, Flynn, Grayson, McNiven, Arnolin (Adaggion, 89mins, Hazley (Hopkinson, 88mins), Stones.

Referee: Mr S Potter-Green. Attendance: 1,126.