HARRIERS 4 EXETER 3

THERE was no time to turn your eyes away from Kidderminster Harriers' seven-goal thriller with Exeter City on Saturday.

But boss Ian Britton found some of his team's defending very hard to watch in a game that mixed horror and pure genius.

Horror when full-back Adie Smith completely missed James Coppinger's through-ball on three minutes, allowing striker Steve Flack to run on and score.

Genius when striker Bo Henriksen let fly from the edge of the area and put spirited Harriers ahead for the first time eight minutes after half-time.

The character they demonstrated in this game is sure to bode well for the rest of the season.

But it was just as well the defending improved at Leyton Orient two days later because Saturday would have given television pundit Alan Hansen nightmares for a long time.

Harriers began in the worst possible fashion by conceding the early goal to former boxer Flack.

And as they tried to find an equaliser, an awkward left-wing cross from ex-England international Lee Sharpe left keeper Stuart Brock in no man's land and Martin Thomas turned home number two.

With just 14 minutes gone, Kidderminster were 2-0 down and their chances of recording a first Division Three win seemingly dashed, especially with such a nervy display at the back.

Henriksen had other ideas though and looks like he could be pivotal to Harriers' hopes of success this season.

It was a tremendous pass from Abdou Sall that gave Henriksen the opportunity to pull a goal back on 29 minutes by lofting the ball calmly over advancing keeper Kevin Miller.

Suddenly, Harriers' belief was restored and within just six minutes an equaliser arrived from an unlikely source.

Dean Bennett's excellent left-wing corner was met by a firm header from young defender Lee Ayres and Exeter's defenders only succeeded in scrambling the ball into their own net.

Ayres celebrated his first senior goal and Harriers kept the momentum flowing after half-time.

Drewe Broughton should have done better on 50 minutes but sent a wild volley from Adie Smith's cross well off-target.

Despite his rash finishing, Broughton was a key figure and soon responded by flicking on for Henriksen to crash an unstoppable third goal past Miller.

Exeter never lacked spirit either in a tremendous end-to-end battle and only Danny Williams' head stopped Flack levelling on 62 minutes.

But the defensive calamities continued as Broughton was left unmarked from Sean Parrish's corner six minutes later.

Former Birmingham City man Miller could only parry his close-range header and Ayres was on hand to volley home a crucial fourth goal.

Sub Andy Roscoe slammed a well-taken Exeter third into the corner of Harriers' net on 78 minutes when Sall only half-cleared Coppinger's cross.

And Roscoe, on for Sharpe, nearly completed an equally fine comeback from the visitors only to be denied by the alert Brock seven minutes from time.

If every match at Aggborough this season could be as entertaining, then the lack of home fans - there were around 1,800 on Saturday - would surely be a crime.

HARRIERS: Brock 6; Smith 6, Sall 7, Ayres 7, Stamps 6; Bennett 6 (Doyle 46, 6), Flynn 6, Williams 7, Parrish 7; Broughton 7, HENRIKSEN 8 (Foster 68, 6). Subs: Danby, Ducros, Joy.

EXETER: Miller; McConnell, Whitworth, Curran, Power; Thomas, Walker, Cronin (Sheldon 46), Sharpe (Roscoe 71); Coppinger, Flack. Subs: Fraser, Watson, Taylor.

ATTENDANCE: 2,195.

SHOTS ON: Harriers 5, Exeter 6.

SHOTS OFF: Harriers 7, Exeter 8.

CORNERS: Harriers 5, Exeter 12.

GOALS: Flack 3, Thomas 14, Henriksen 29, Ayres 35, Henriksen 53, Ayres 68, Roscoe 78.

YELLOW CARDS: Harriers 3 (Stamps, Doyle, Flynn), Exeter 2 (Thomas, Walker).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Bo Henriksen. Brilliant finishing from the Dane helped Harriers win this entertaining contest. Was subbed with 22 minutes left but had already stamped his authority on the match.