THE tide would appear to be turning for Jan Molby's Kidderminster Harriers players after a dramatic upturn in form.

Three of the last four displays could be classed as very good or frankly even better than that.

On Saturday, they beat an out-of-sorts Bristol Rovers side - and it was all done with some ease.

It's another reminder of how far Harriers have come when clubs of the size and tradition of Bristol Rovers are falling at Aggborough.

And if they keep playing the entertaining football of recent weeks, the crowds are bound to pick up.

Away performances, with a difficult game ahead at Leyton Orient, could be a different prospect as the dull Southend clash showed.

But the team are getting it right on Kidderminster turf which must come as a big relief to the management team of Molby and Gary Barnett as well as chairman Lionel Newton.

It is hard to argue with a display that combined hard work and some good passing football.

Harriers were not even put off by fussy official Paul Danson who racked up an astounding eight cautions in a game that was never dirty.

The home side started slowly at the weekend but the signs were there that the points would go their way.

They were confident on the ball and managed to get to grips with dangerous ex-Liverpool winger Mark Walters after a tricky opening spell.

Mark Blake fired an Ian Foster pass too close to keeper Scott Howie from the edge of the area.

A similar move from the visitors saw Dwayne Plummer hammer wastefully over the bar on 18 minutes.

With Drewe Broughton, Abdou Sall and Scott Stamps already booked, Harriers took the lead on 33 minutes with an excellent goal.

The bustling Broughton laid the ball off for Dean Bennett who swept it past full-back Scott Jones and let fly with a lethal finish from 20 yards into the far corner of Howie's net.

It was Bennett's first goal of the season which always seemed just a matter of time for the midfielder.

In the second half, Harriers took further control with Blake and Larkin shooting over with good efforts.

The crucial final goal came on 61 minutes when the influential Danny Williams won the ball in midfield and set up Broughton for a clear run at goal, ending with a crisp, low finish.

Bristol Rovers, clearly unhappy after relegation last season and a dodgy first few months for new boss Gerry Francis, managed to give Stuart Brock something to worry about.

First, the keeper blocked a close-range effort from unmarked substitute Kevin Gall, then he tipped over Plummer's 20-yard drive on 70 minutes.

They were good saves from Brock and his opposite number nearly got caught out as the game drew to a close.

Sub Sam Shilton won a loose ball on the left-hand side of the box before Howie and turned to loop an ambitious curler that bounced off the top of the bar.

It would have been a fine way to cap an impressive display from Harriers.

Harriers: Brock 7; Clarkson 7, Sall 7, Hinton 7, Stamps 7; Bennett 8, WILLIAMS 9, Blake 7 (Smith 59, 6); Foster 7 (Shilton 76), Broughton 8, Larkin 7. Subs not used: Murphy, Bird, Hadley.

Bristol Rovers: Howie; Wilson, Thompson, Foster, Jones (Challis 46); Bryant (Bubb 57), Mauge (Gall 37), Plummer, Walters; Cameron, Ross. Subs not used: Clarke, Foran.

ATTENDANCE: 3,588

SHOTS ON: Harriers 6 Bristol Rovers 3

SHOTS OFF: Harriers 10 Bristol Rovers 6

CORNERS: Harriers 6 Bristol Rovers 3

YELLOW CARDS: Harriers 3 (Broughton, Sall, Stamps), Bristol Rovers 5 (Plummer, Bryant, Ross, Cameron, Challis)

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Danny Williams. Ran the midfield with his best display for Harriers so far. His assist for the second goal was typical of a good harrying display coupled with accurate and slick passing.