HARRIERS 0, ROCHDALE 1

NOW they are mathematically safe from relegation, Kidderminster Harriers' Division Three struggle really can not end quickly enough.

Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to third-from-bottom Rochdale was typical of too many abject displays this season where Harriers have barely raised a canter, let alone a gallop.

Director of football Jan Molby realises he must act in the summer or Harriers will be in exactly the same position, possibly worse, come April 2005 but it is not going to be easy given the club's limited budget.

They lined up with an attacking 4-3-3 formation, including recalls for John Williams and loan teenager Leon Clarke, in a bid to increase Rochdale's worries as they hover above the drop zone.

But when pedestrian performances like this lack energy and desire, Harriers may as well be playing with just the lone front man. The result was a real dearth of any kind of goal-scoring chance.

They have not found the net in three of the last four fixtures and on Saturday Simon Brown, a West Brom player, seemed the only man capable of threatening that statistic.

Harriers had been hard to beat with one defeat in the last seven league fixtures at Aggborough but they even managed to gift Rochdale the single goal necessary for a much-needed three points.

With 38 minutes gone, skipper Wayne Hatswell failed to deal with Steve Burton's ball inside, drilling it straight at Leo Bertos who raced clear and expertly drifted past keeper John Danby to tap into an empty net.

Hatswell can be forgiven as he has played a major role in ensuring Harriers retain their Football League status which has been under serious threat at several points this season.

But Molby will not be so kind to some of his team-mates after ominously declaring his players were making it far easier for him to decide on the 15 out-of-contract in the summer.

And with performances like this the Dane's thinking can only be going one way and that is to a big clear-out operation which will leave no room for sentiment.

Harriers should have been behind on 18 minutes at the weekend when Gary Jones' fine cross picked out Rochdale's striker Lee McEvilly who headed against the near post.

Five minutes later, the hosts tested Neil Edwards seriously for the only time in the match when Adam Murray cleverly controlled Brown's pass and forced the keeper into a low diving save from 16 yards.

But Rochdale's tricky New Zealand winger Bertos streaked away to put them in front with his 10th goal of the season and their first shot on target.

Brown, showing a cool head for a 20-year-old, nearly fashioned an equaliser before the interval but lofted a clever chip just too high from a Craig Hinton pass.

But Harriers' Danby was the busier of the two keepers in the second period, starting well with a safe claim at his near post after a fierce strike from former Premiership midfielder Neil Redfearn.

Brown's slick turn and through-pass into the path of Matt Gadsby was wasted by the Harriers utility man who at least tried to push forward with some purpose.

Harriers put together hardly any passes of note though and had Danby to thank for an astonishing, and perhaps fortunate, save with his leg from Sean Smith's deceptive free-kick on 57 minutes.

But as the home side attacked down the left where Leon Clarke and then Jesper Christiansen failed to shine, they did not use Brown enough on the right flank.

When Harriers did find the loan signing, he provided a useful cross for Gadsby to head wide, while Redfearn thundered in another shot at the other end but it rose over the bar from 35 yards.

Danby, still impressing despite little help from his defence, again worked his angles perfectly to block from young sub Rory Patterson who was allowed to race clear.

Perhaps the one highlight was a healthy 3,580 crowd, boosted by free tickets for schoolchildren and 651 travelling fans, but how many will be back?

Saturday's visit to an impressive Torquay is the last thing Harriers need but it could well see them lifting their performance to tackle the promotion hopefuls.

HARRIERS: Danby 7; Hinton 5, Sall 5, Hatswell 5, Burton 5; Gadsby 6, Yates 5 (Jenkins 86); Murray 5 (Parrish 55, 5); BROWN 7, Williams 5, Clarke 4 (Christiansen 55, 5). Subs not used: Stamps, McHale.

ROCHDALE: Edwards; Evans, Heald (Livesey 46), Griffiths, Smith; Bertos, McClare, Jones, Warner, Redfearn; McEvilly (Patterson 78). Subs not used: Gilks, Doughty, Townson.

ATTENDANCE: 3,580.

SHOTS ON: Harriers 2, Rochdale 5.

SHOTS OFF: Harriers 9, Rochdale 5.

CORNERS: Harriers 5, Rochdale 8.

GOALS: Bertos 38.

YELLOW CARDS: Harriers 0, Rochdale 1 (Smith).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Simon Brown. A big threat whenever the West Brom loan man received the ball which was not often enough. Played some incisive passes and was as willing to run at defenders as ever.