EYE-CATCHING performances from Tony Bird, Craig Hinton and summer signings Danny Williams and Mark Blake snatched the limelight away from Lee Hughes on his return to Kidderminster Harriers.

Saturday's friendly with Black Country neighbours West Bromwich Albion was made spicier than one of the ginger striker's favourite curries with news the 25-year-old former Harrier had refused a new contract with the First Division outfit.

A big pay day could be in store for Kidderminster thanks to a 15 per cent sell-on clause negotiated as part of his 1997 move, should the Baggies decide to cash in on their prize asset.

But for the most part Hughes was kept quiet by a commanding performance from Harriers captain Hinton on a stiflingly hot day which saw Jan Molby's men turn in a fine display to grab a hard-earned victory and crank up their pre-season confidence a few notches.

It could have been a different story had the solid Stuart Brock not been sufficiently alert to come out of his area and snuff out the danger with Hughes clean through twice in the opening seven minutes.

Harriers then forced several corners which saw Daire Doyle's flag kicks test Albion keeper Russell Hoult on a couple of occasions before the red and white section of the 3,217 crowd were sent wild on 28 minutes when a long ball found the Baggies back line - and in particular Larus Sigurdsson - flat footed, leaving record signing Andy Ducros to execute a perfect lob over the stranded custodian.

Kidderminster's lead was short-lived, however, as the Baggies were back on terms within three minutes, French trialist Mamado Seck setting up Michael Appleton with an inch-perfect ball to score.

Harriers fans will be hoping Bird can this year take his pre-season form into competitive football. The Welshman turned in a star performance on the right side of midfield, displaying some crafty footwork, solid defence play and attacking firepower.

It was some of the latter that saw him grab what turned out to be the winner on 58 minutes when he turned the West Brom defence inside-out in the area before firing into the far corner.

Blake and Williams are starting to look a commanding pairing in the Harriers engine room, with Blake looking especially menacing going forward.

He headed over from a Ducros free kick on 34 minutes and nearly extended his team's lead further just after the hour mark when forcing a point-blank save from Hoult after being fed by Ian Foster.

HARRIERS: Brock 7, Medou-Otye 7, Stamps 7, Blake 8, Hinton 8, Smith 7(Ayres 59mins, 7), BIRD 9, Williams 8 (Davies 63, 7),Hadley 7, Ducros 8 (Foster 59, 8), Doyle 7 (Shilton 59, 8)

WBA: Hoult, Balis, Clement, McInnes, Seck (Butler 72), Gilchrist, Sigursson (Cummings 72), Taylor, Jordao (Fox 73), Hughes (Dobie 88), Appleton.