ORIENT 0 HARRIERS 0

AS defensive jobs go, Kidderminster Harriers could hardly have given a better performance at Leyton Orient in Monday's 0-0 draw.

Ian Britton, without first-choice centre-backs Craig Hinton and Abdou Sall, had to revert to a 3-5-2 formation and it worked wonders against unimaginative Orient.

It was hard to believe the London club boasted a 100 per cent record at home from their previous two games.

But then they did come up against three sterling displays from the back-line trio of Scott Stamps, Lee Ayres and Adie Smith.

With the rest of Britton's team constantly harassing their opposite numbers in possession, those three mopped up immaculately at the back.

Keeper Stuart Brock, apart from collecting crosses and long balls, was hardly called upon to make a real save.

The effort and application from injury-hit Harriers, though they very rarely threatened the Orient goal in any form, was superb.

They remain unbeaten in three Football League visits to Brisbane Road and their second 0-0 away draw of the season shows they are creating something of a mean streak on the road.

If they can combine that with home wins, like against Exeter on Saturday, then Harriers could well make an impact in this competitive division.

Monday's game had goal-less written all over it, even before Brock fielded a weak header from Kevin Nugent on 20 minutes.

Matt Lockwood drove a free-kick straight at the keeper close to half-time and midfielder Carl Hutchings fired wide from a good position in the second half.

But in truth Harriers completely snuffed out the home side's threat and made Orient's strike force of Lee Thorpe and Kevin Nugent look very ordinary.

Flying winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce was marked out of the game by Ian Joy in his first start of the season.

Harriers were, however, grateful to Suffolk referee Mick Thorpe for showing leniency when forward Drewe Broughton reacted to a foul from substitute John Martin on 67 minutes.

Though both ended up with a yellow card, Broughton may have feared a second red of the season after grabbing his opponent around the throat and sparking a confrontation involving most of the players.

The big striker, who worked tirelessly throughout the game, remained on the pitch and came closest for the visitors with a late 20-yarder turned away for a corner by keeper Rhys Evans.

Broughton held the ball up well as a solid Harriers enjoyed more possession in the second half and continued to frustrate an increasingly desperate Orient.

ORIENT: Evans; Harris, McGhee, Smith, Lockwood; Campbell-Ryce, Toner, Hutchings, Brazier (Martin 66); Thorpe, Nugent (McLean 66). Subs: Joseph, Barrett, Fletcher.

HARRIERS: Brock 7; Smith 8, Ayres 8, STAMPS 9; Doyle 7 (Shilton 77), Williams 7, Flynn 7, Parrish 7, Joy 8; Broughton 8, Foster 7 (Lewis 86). Subs: Henriksen, Danby, Ducros.

ATTENDANCE: 4,147.

SHOTS ON: Orient 3, Harriers 0.

SHOTS OFF: Orient 10, Harriers 4.

CORNERS: Orient 5, Harriers 2.

YELLOW CARDS: Orient 3 (Thorpe, Martin, Campbell-Ryce), Harriers 3 (Parrish, Broughton, Joy).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Scott Stamps. A tremendous display after being switched from left-back to one of three centre-halves. Very little got past him and his spirit typified that of the rest of his team-mates. Needed stitches on a cut to his forehead.