IT can only be hoped the long, arduous slog up the M6 towards Rochdale will not reflect Kidderminster Harriers' season.

But after another tough day on their travels - quite literally with the grid-locked state of the traffic moving north - Harriers returned with one more defeat under their belts.

However, boss Jan Molby was looking on the positive side afterwards with his appraisal of the performance, stating it was their best in Division Three so far.

This may have said more about Kidderminster's disappointing Division Three displays up to last weekend than Saturday's match itself.

They are yet to get anywhere near the barn-storming Worthington Cup efforts on show against Preston three weeks ago.

And though the league table gives Harriers seven welcome points from six fixtures, they have not scored more than one goal in any of those games.

Their away record reads played three, lost three -- but do not forget the three victors, Darlington, Hull and Rochdale, have made impressive starts to the season.

It is still early days but at least Harriers could claim to have had a good share of the possession at the league leaders on Saturday.

Unfortunately, they are desperately lacking a cutting edge and shot themselves in the foot by conceding two goals from set-pieces, their old Achilles heel.

Tony Ford, still going strong at 42, put two corners into the box and 6ft 4ins summer signing Gareth Griffiths headed both into the back of Stuart Brock's net.

It was the main difference between the two sides though Brock was forced to do enough to be many peoples' man-of-the-match for the visitors.

After arriving half-an-hour before kick-off and changing on the coach, Harriers made a disastrous start.

Rochdale took the lead within 60 seconds as Ford and Griffiths combined for the home side to leave Kidderminster immediately playing catch-up.

After Brock had made a few more saves, a good move between Sam Shilton and surprise forward Dean Bennett saw the latter cross for Stewart Hadley to head over on 22 minutes.

With Bennett running at the opposition, it was looking promising for Harriers and Tony Bird - now the free-kick specialist - sent teenage keeper Matthew Gilks scrambling across his line to stop a 30-yard effort.

However, Harriers' custodian was again in action when sought-after striker Kevin Townson found space in the box and forced a smart block from Brock.

Defensively, the visitors were not happy but Bennett nearly shocked their table-topping opponents with a low drive from distance that Gilks deflected around the post at the last moment.

Harriers only survived on 52 minutes courtesy of Brock who palmed away Clive Platt's awkward cross-shot and then blocked Kieron Durkan's follow-up.

But they kept going and an unmarked Bennett blotted a good comeback by heading Danny Williams' centre straight at Gilks on 66 minutes.

Ten minutes later and Rochdale had decided the contest with a far-post Griffiths header from Ford's corner that Brock got a hand to.

But like Harriers' efforts on the day, it was not enough to stop Rochdale who could have added to their tally later on.

Young left-back Ian Joy may have given hope for the future with a useful full debut but Harriers need some kind of away result to get going.

Rochdale: Gilks; Evans, Bayliss, Griffiths, McAuley; Ford (Flitcroft 82), Oliver, Jones, Durkan (Doughty 85); Townson (Connor 68), Platt. Subs not used: Baker, Todd.

Harriers: BROCK 8; Clarkson 6, Smith 7, Hinton 6, Joy 7; Bird 6, Davies 7, Williams 6, Shilton 6; Hadley 6 (Broughton 65, 6), Bennett 7. Subs not used: Murphy, Foster, Ducros, Shail.

Attendance: 2,885.

Harriers youth lost 2-0 at West Bromwich Albion in the group stage of their League Cup competition.

They head to Luton next Saturday morning for a league clash.