RUSS Penn lamented 'one of those nights' for Harriers as their lengthy unbeaten league run ended with a 2-0 defeat at Hereford.

A goal either side of half time for the Bulls gave them all three points and the bragging rights from the first league derby of the season.

It gave Harriers their first National League North defeat since the 2-0 set-back against Brackley back in October and halting an unbeaten run that had hit double figures.

It was fairly luckless night, too - the Reds not only lost the game but also Ethan Freemantle to injury just half an hour in.

The striker joins the likes of Nathan Cameron, Lewis Montrose and new signing Devonte Redmond on the sidelines. Whilst Penn says he expects some of those names to be back in contention for the weekend visit of York to Aggborough, it did little to console the boss at Edgar Street.

Looking back on the reverse, he admitted: "The worst part is the second goal, so early on in the second half when we'd had a good start as well.

"The whole game plan goes out of the window. You're shuffling and changing, you're bringing lads on and doing formations because of the bodies we're missing and haven't got.

"You're playing players everywhere and Sam has played about five different positions tonight which I hate doing.

"It was just one of those nights."

Through Austin and Sterling Harriers worked two of the night's better early opportunities before the half hour on a chilly and foggy night - former Harrier Brandon Hall being equal to both of those.

The home side were in front on 39 minutes when Gordon was on hand to steer a finish past Simpson after a corner hadn't been properly cleared.

That was a lead the Bulls doubled not long after the restart - 49 minutes on the clock when a swift counter ended in Owen-Evans finishing on the angle past Simpson.

As the half wore on, Sterling proved to be Harriers biggest threat and he went closest to reducing the arrears - forcing a save with one free kick after another had gone over, and drilling a further shot narrowly wide of Hall's target.

Penn's men will need to dust themselves off quickly - promotion contenders York travel to Worcestershire for a 3pm kick-off with another sizable crowd expected at Aggborough.

Meanwhile, the club confirmed this week that defender Caleb Richards has extended his contract with the club until 2023.