HARRIERS picked up their best win of the season with a convincing display and 3-0 victory at Southport.

Not for the first time this season, Harriers were forced to take to the field with a raft of enforced changes.

Amid a relentless schedule of games, Dan Bradley, James McQuilkin and Joe Ironside all found themselves on the treatment table, alongside longer-term absentees Liam Truslove and Lee Vaughan.

Ryan Croasdale also missed out through personal reasons, meaning there was a first start for on-loan Doncaster youngster Will Longbottom, with Declan Weeks, Josh Webb and Andre Brown all also coming into the eleven. New signing Jack Finch, signed on the previous evening, made the visiting bench.

The young collective started the game under the pump of a Southport side keen to make amends for a heavy defeat last time out, Curtis Jones planting a header wide after 13 minutes when placed to have done much better.

Harriers did edge themselves into the game and had half sights of goal through Austin and Horsfall, before their first serious chance of the day came secured the first goal – a 26th minute effort from Longbottom, netting his first for the club as he reacted quickest from a corner to score.

The visitors were then transformed and forced home goalkeeper Mark Halstead into some fine saves as they searched for more goals, parrying away a Weeks free-kick before extending himself to prevent Longbottom grabbing a second before the interval.

Just seven after the break, Longbottom turned provider for Brown at the by-line as the striker calmly fired in his first of the season to put his team two ahead, Horsfall then going close with a header from a Weeks free-kick.

Lee Croft saw his attempts to reduce the arrears smothered by Hall with just over 20 left, Sonupe sending an effort high over the ball soon after with his last action of the day.

There would be no grandstand comeback for the hosts, though – Harriers deserved their win on the day and it was wrapped up in fine style by a sensational finish from Brown, on the counter, as he bent a finish into the top corner of the net.

HARRIERS: Hall, Webb, Williams, Horsfall, Taylor (Digie 90), Weeks, Ngwatala, Austin, Longbottom (Finch 87), Sonupe (Wright 72), Brown.

Subs not used: Bannister Attendance: 901 Referee: Sam Barrott