THERE'S an old adage in football that nothing goes your way when you're down at the bottom - as Kidderminster Harriers are finding to their cost.

To be on the wrong end of the kind of controversial decision Harriers fell foul of on Saturday is demoralising at the best of times.

But to suffer an injustice like Swansea's opening goal when you are scrapping for your Football League life is an even bitterer pill to swallow.

Regardless of your football persuasion, referee Frederick Graham's decision to allow Paul Connor's 16th minute effort was wrong.

With John Danby lying prostrate on the floor after being pole-axed by Kevin Austin, the match official had no option but to stop the match and let the keeper receive attention.

But instead of blowing up, the hapless referee just stood and watched as Andy Gurney turned the partially-cleared ball back into the box and Connor scored into an empty net.

There was a stunned silence all around the Vetch Field as the 6,462 crowd awaited the outcome of those moments of madness.

And even when the goal was given, the celebrations from the Swansea fans were somewhat muted to say the least.

In a match the hosts eventually won at a canter, Molby could be accused of being a sore loser by continuing to protest about the decision to the referee and Swansea boss Kenny Jackett at the final whistle.

But the Kidderminster chief had every right to feel aggrieved as it is impossible to over-state how pivotal the opening goal was in the overall result.

Up until that point, a Harriers team on the back of four straight defeats were holding their own and gradually rebuilding their shattered confidence.

And all credit to them, even after the first goal they refused to throw in the towel.

But as the match progressed the belief that the world was against them continued to grow in the visitors' minds, especially with so many youngsters in the side, and defeat was inevitable.

Once again Harriers lacked a cutting edge.

Having said that, but for a brilliant block by Austin, Kelvin Langmead would have opened the scoring for them two minutes before they fell behind.

Their only other real chance came in the dying seconds when they were already dead and buried with Brown's cheeky chip failing to have sufficient height to beat Willy Gueret.

There were bits and pieces for Kidderminster, including off-target efforts from Chris McHale, Richie Appleby and Ian Foster, but attacking moments from Harriers were the exception rather than the rule.

Instead Swansea, boosted by their slice of luck, set about taking their opponents apart and with the supremely talented Lee Trundle swaggering through the match, their play at times bordered on show-boating.

Trundle it was who added the second - not before he had been booked for catching Danby in the face with his studs - with a sublime piece of skill on 53 mniutes.

With his back to goal, the former Wrexham and Rhyl striker received Gurney's pass and left Wayne Hatswell standing with a tremendous turn before slotting in a precise finish.

After than Trundle produced plenty of his party tricks to humiliate Harriers as his team carved through the Kidderminster defence at will.

Despite being battered and bruised Danby showed why he has become the subject of interest from two Championship clubs with a smart save from Kristian O'Leary's rasping volley before the break and a block at the feet of Connor as Swansea bossed the second half.

He was powerless to prevent the third goal which eventually came three minutes from time when a well-worked short corner routine down the right between Roberto Martinez and Leon Britton gave the latter all the time and space in the world to pick out Connor and he turned the ball in from close range.

SWANSEA: Gueret, Ricketts, Austin, O'Leary, Gurney, Iriekpen (Tate 32), Martinez, Forbes (Britton 75), Robinson, Trundle, Connor (Nugent 90). Subs not used: Murphy, Maylett.

HARRIERS: DANBY 8, Jenkins 6 (Mellon 54, 5), Burton 6, Hatswell 6, McHale 5, Brown 5, Foster 5 (Roberts 64, 6), Appleby 6, McMahon 7, Christiansen 5, Langmead 6. Subs not used: Lewis, Christie, Gleeson.

ATTENDANCE: 6,462.

REFEREE: Frederick Graham (Essex).