Coach Tim Flowers urged Harriers to tighten up at the back after defensive lapses led to a disappointing defeat against table-topping Forest Green Rovers at Aggborough.

The result left Gary's Whild's strugglers still searching for their first National League victory of the season after losing four and drawing two of their opening six games.

Rampant Rovers made it six wins on the bounce thanks to a 64th minute strike from Keanu Marsh-Brown and a 72nd minute header from substitute Jon Parkin.

Frustrated Flowers admitted that lowly Harriers had been guilty of defensive errors which led to both of Forest Green's goals.

He said: “If you're going to concede goals like we're conceding, which are either enforced or individual errors, then you aren't going to win football matches.

“I think we have got to man up. We can't keep giving away goals like we are if we're going do well in this division. There's no magic wand here this season. I think everybody knows that.

“We aren't going to be ringing too many changes because we haven't got the bodies to ring the changes with. So we've got to work hard with what we've got.

“There are some young kids here and they've got to learn quick because this, like most divisions, is unforgiving when you're in the form we're in in terms of results.”

Flowers also accepted that shot-shy Harriers had failed to create enough chances to make the visitors work harder for their third away triumph of the campaign He said: “Forest Green have come away from home in a local derby and I don't think their goalkeeper got his knees dirty if I'm honest. We've huffed and puffed but haven't really created much, but in terms of what we're giving away it isn't good enough.”

Harriers were particularly grateful to young on-loan goalkeeper Alex Palmer in the 24th minute when he reacted quickly to push away a header from Kurtis Guthrie.

Despite having the greater share of possession Rovers failed to break through until after the break when a cross from Elliot Frear got past defender Lathaniel Rowe-Turner before being powerfully side-footed into the net by Marsh-Brown from just inside the area.

Forest Green made sure of maximum points when hesitancy by Palmer following a free kick by David Pipe enabled Parkin to score with a well judged header. Parkin had only been the pitch for 74 seconds after replacing Frear.

His goal was a shattering blow for Harriers who were indebted to Palmer in the dying minuter when he produced a splendid save to keep out a shot from Aaron O'Connor.

Kidderminster: Palmer 6; Hodgkiss 6, Tunnicliffe 6, Rowe-Turner 6, FOX 7; Dawson 6, Clarke 5, Maxwell 6 (Dinsley, 61, 5), Campbell 6; Verma 6 (Styche, 58, 5), Singh 5 (Wright, 73, 5). Subs not used: Snedker, Green.

Forest Green: Maxted; Pipe, Bennett, Racine, Jennings; Sinclair (Kelly, 39), Wedgbury, Guthrie, Marsh-Brown (Sam-Yorke, 79); O’Connor, Frear (Parkin, 71). Subs not used: White, Clough.

Referee: Robert Jones (Wirral).

Attendance: 1,905 (286 away fans).