Blackpool 5 Harriers 1

THERE was no getting away from it. Saturday was sheer suicide on the seaside for Kidderminster Harriers.

We've seen poor performances and disappointing displays over the season but their visit to Blackpool at the weekend was on another level.

Harriers were completely outgunned by lively opposition who demonstrated what it takes to be in a play-off place.

That the visitors' goal was put into the net by a Blackpool player came as little surprise - this could have been an even greater hiding for Jan Molby's men.

If Steve McMahon's Blackpool go up, Molby will be glad to see the back of his old Liverpool team-mate's club.

Back in September, Harriers were ripped apart in a 4-1 defeat on Sky television and Saturday at Bloomfield Road was even worse.

It was a flat afternoon for all the men from Worcestershire with perhaps only Dean Bennett catching the eye through sheer effort.

Molby was hoping to see many of his players proving they could play a part in a promotion push next season.

On this evidence, Harriers may have quite a job on their hands without more transfer market dealings this summer.

A good away support of around 500 will keep fingers crossed that this kind of gutless display was just a one-off.

It started badly as John Murphy leapt above the defence to head Danny Coid's right-wing cross past Tim Clarke on only six minutes.

Harriers' equaliser on 20 minutes - a first own goal of the season - gave false hope as Coid turned Neil MacKenzie's dangerous cross into his own net.

However, Blackpool continued to cause Harriers terrible problems with Murphy and Brett Ormerod yet again a handful, leaving Parfait Medou-Otye and Craig Hinton living dangerously on yellow cards.

Murphy put the home side back ahead on 26 minutes, finishing smartly into the far corner after collecting Paul Simpson's pass.

The half-time whistle could not come soon enough and Medou-Otye showed Harriers intentions by driving a 25-yard drive just wide on 51 minutes - or so we thought.

Ten minutes later, Blackpool's Steve Bushell sent Richard Wellens through and Clarke could only help his shot into the net.

Although Phil Barnes did well to catch John Durnin's attempted lob under his bar, Blackpool rubbed salt into the wounds.

Murphy bagged his hat-trick from the penalty spot on 65 minutes after Craig Hinton sent Wellens sprawling.

Then Ormerod brushed past Mark Shail five minutes from time and slid home a confident finish.

Red-faced Harriers, who regularly gifted possession to their opponents, left the pitch a well-beaten side and certainly spent longer than usual in the changing room.