FORTUNES have changed somewhat for Harriers since their last clash with Mansfield Town on Boxing Day.

Harriers bossed the home game against the Stags and extended their unbeaten Division Three run to four games.

But the 1-0 scoreline should have been greater and Jan Molby's side have crucially failed to pick up another three points since that day.

And on Tuesday night they again failed to make the most of some excellent opportunities, created amid spells of good football on a pitch hit by torrential rain.

However, it was another disappointing defeat for Harriers and the goals were given away far too cheaply as the visitors blundered in both penalty areas.

There were promising debuts for on-loan forward Drewe Broughton and midfielder Daire Doyle.

Broughton, signed from Peterborough, gave Mansfield's uncompromising centre-back Stuart Hicks a tough time, winning his fair share in the air and holding the ball up well.

It may take his team-mates time to get used to playing with a 6ft 3ins target-man but he could well earn a £50,000 move to Aggborough next month.

It looked like a dream debut for Broughton on 17 minutes when he guided a classic header into the corner of Bobby Mimms' net.

Doyle, playing on the right, provided the assist with a well-flighted cross and, although in and out of the game, also gave some hope for the future.

In particular, the Irishman volleyed a fine dipping effort onto the top of the net from 20 yards on 72 minutes as Harriers chased the game.

However, the fact Molby's men failed to draw level means they must look over their shoulders with many of the struggling pack, including Torquay United, only six points away.

Mansfield, who moved onto 33 points with Harriers after Tuesday's win, were watched by one of their lowest league crowds for some time.

But they witnessed an end-to-end game that should have produced far more goals.

After only eight minutes, Broughton's miscued shot fell perfectly for John Durnin inside the area only for the striker to lift his shot over the bar.

But Harriers took the lead when the ball was cleared to Doyle from a corner controversially awarded after the same player fired across the face of goal.

Broughton's header could have been built upon minutes later when a quick counter-attack found Durnin but he shot wide while under pressure.

However, the home side gave Harriers a warning on the half-hour when Darrell Clarke played in former Aston Villa midfielder Mark Blake only for Brock to block well.

And two minutes later Wayne Corden's long left-wing cross was volleyed back by Lee Williams for Chris Greenacre to head his 15th goal of the season.

Left-back Parfait Medou-Otye, replaced in the second half with hamstring trouble, cut inside and fired over from 25 yards as Harriers tried to regain the advantage.

And the ever-dangerous Neil MacKenzie thumped another long-range effort that Mimms did well to gather on the tricky surface.

Harriers began to lose control of the midfield in the second half but should have been ahead by then.

Mimms tipped Craig Hinton's powerful header around the post on 47 minutes before MacKenzie was given a golden opportunity by Durnin only to blaze over.

Mansfield's introduction of Mick Boulding proved crucial on 69 minutes as he scored with his first touch.

Broughton's pass to Horne was intercepted by Blake and he released pacey Boulding to tuck a tidy finish under Brock.

The striker could have grabbed another when he shot just wide and Brock saved excellently from Greenacre.

But MacKenzie will be kicking himself for missing another great chance seven minutes from the end. He took too much time over his shot and was pressurised into aiming too close to Mimms.

Once again, Harriers must look back on yet another game they really could have won.