THERE'S an old joke which goes something like this: Kidderminster Harriers are the strongest team in the Football League - they must be to prop up the other 91 clubs!

But this is no laughing matter and anybody who has witnessed events at Aggborough in the past week, knows just how fragile this football club really is right now.

They faced their relegation rivals Shrewsbury on Saturday with no manager, no captain, without their star goalkeeper and big three summer signings and with only 14 fit players.

And unless they find a war-chest of cash from somewhere to give the eventual new boss to bolster their wafer-thin squad there is little hope for Harriers.

It's no exaggeration to suggest Kidderminster are facing their biggest challenge of their brief time in the Football League and they need a minor miracle to stay up.

In truth Saturday was another hard luck story for them because on the general balance of play they didn't deserve to lose and a draw would have been a fairer result.

But these things happen when you're down in the doldrums and as caretaker boss Cunnington admitted afterwards Kidderminster can't afford to feel sorry for themselves.

When a new man comes into the dressing room it often rallies the troops and the former West Brom, Sunderland and Grimsby midfielder got the response he was looking for. It was just the result that was lacking.

Defeat to Shrewsbury has left Harriers three points adrift of safety and the temporary manager's short term brief must be to make sure that gap doesn't grow any wider.

In fairness, there wasn't much difference in quality between the two strugglers on Saturday, even though the visitors started strongly and looked more cohesive.

Ryan Lowe's clinical 82nd winner for the Shropshire was harsh on Harriers who up until that point had defended stoutly and tried to attack with purpose.True, Shr-ewsbury stormed out of the blocks and looked the more calm and cohesive unit throughout the game.

But Harriers gave enough glimmers of hope to suggest that the fight is not over - not by a long way.

Had Kelvin Langmead's first half strike been an inch to the left it could have been a different story, but as it was it cannoned to safety of the post. Substitute Youssou Diop almost scored with his first touch, getting his head to Steve Burton's blistering cross but failing to find the target.

James Keene showed the type of quality which persuaded Premiership Portsmouth to present him with a professional contract last week and constantly gave experience Shrewsbury skipper Darren Tinson the run-around.

But in a surprisingly open game, considering both clubs' worrying predicament at the bottom of League Two, Harriers had plenty of work to do at the other end too.

On-loan keeper Ben Foster made an encouraging debut and pulled out two decent first half saves to deny Jamie Tolley who also went close, along with Kevin Street after the break.

The killer blow arrived with eight minutes to go, however, when Lowe, who had a seemingly fine third minute goal ruled out for pushing, grabbed the winner in spectacular style.

A young Harriers defence who had kept their concentration up until then were caught napping by a threaded Darren Moss pass and Lowe lashed an angled finish into the roof of the net.

HARRIERS: B Foster 7, Cooper 7, Burton 7, Sall 7, McHale 7, Russell 7, I Foster 6 (Christiansen 46, 6), KEATES 8, Jenkins 7, Keene 7 (Diop 76, 6), Langmead 6. Subs not used: Lewis, Advice-Desruisseaux.

SHREWSBURY: Howie, Moss, Challis, Tinson, Whitehead, Street, Aiston, O'Connor (Sedgemore 61), Tolley, Darby, Lowe (Grant 90). Subs not used: Ridler, Fox, Hart.

ATTENDANCE: 3,830 (1,330 away).

REFEREE: Mark Warren (West Midlands).