Harriers 2, King’s Lynn Town 4

HARRIERS were left to rue a shocking defensive showing as they slipped to defeat against King’s Lynn Town.

Kidderminster shipped their most goals in a game this season on way to a fifth home loss.

Reds had led twice through Ashley Hemmings and Richard Peniket before King’s Lynn hit back as defensive frailties cost the hosts.

It was the visitors that created the first effort of the evening as Adam Marriott fired a free-kick over Cameron Gregory’s bar.

However, it was Harriers that broke the deadlock after just six minutes at Aggborough when Hemmings lofted an effort beyond keeper Alex Street after Correy Davidson’s ball in from the left.

It then took Town just four minutes to level matters when Chris Henderson headed home from close range after a teasing cross from the right from Aaron Jones.

The away side continued to push forward after their equaliser and it needed Gregory to get down low to keep out Marriott’s snap-shot from the edge of the box.

Kidderminster’s main threat came on the break as they worked the ball quickly to the willing runs of Ash Chambers and Ed Williams in what had developed into an open clash.

Sparks continued to fly and Reds had the lead again on 22 minutes when Richard Peniket drilled powerfully home from the right corner of the area via the inside of the far post.

Declan Weeks nearly made it three just past the half hour mark with a drive from almost the same position, but this time the ball clipped the outside of the post and went wide.

It certainly wasn’t shaping up as a night for defending and next it was Harriers’ rearguard to fall short as Town made it 2-2 on 35 minutes.

This time it was a set-piece that was their undoing as defender Rory McAuley had the simple task of heading home Michael Clunan’s corner as Gregory and the home backline stood watching.

Peniket should then have bagged his second when he stooped to meet a cross from the left flank but his weak header was brilliantly pushed away by Street and the barnstorming end-to-end half ended all square.

The second half started much like the first as Weeks flashed an effort wide from range after just three minutes.

King’s Lynn took the lead for the first time on 50 minutes when more slack defending saw the ball break to Marriott on the edge of the area. He fired past the attempted block of Ryan Johnson and the late dive of Gregory to mate it 3-2.

It should have been more for the visitors just three minutes later but Gregory stood tall to keep out former Harrier Michael Gash after he’d got in behind.

Gregory again denied Gash on the hour mark when he got down well to keep out the forward’s low free-kick.

Harriers just never got going in attack and it didn’t take long before King’s Lynn struck again to bag a vital two-goal advantage.

Again poor marking from a 65th minute corner cost Kidderminster as Ryan Jarvis poked home from inside the six-yard box when the ball wasn’t cleared.

Confident King’s Lynn continued to pile on the pressure as Gregory tipped over another effort from Marriott.

Kidderminster threw on giant forward Brandon Diau looking for a way back but they just couldn’t find a spark in the final 10 minutes as any hopes of a fightback drifted away.

Harriers: Gregory, Austin, Davidson, Butterfield, Moyo (c), Johnson, Weeks (Prosser 86), Williams (Shenton 70), Chambers (Diau 74), Hemmings, Peniket.

Unused subs: Palmer, Higginson.

King’s Lynn: Street, Jones, Fox, Jarvis, Barrow, McAuley, Clunan (c), Richards, Gash, Marriott (Kelly 90), Henderson (Carey 82).

Unused subs: Payne, Stewart, Hawkins.

Att: 1,082 (14).