HARRIERS ended the season in exciting style with a fine 4-3 win at Southport.

With new manager John Eustace watching in the stands alongside proposed number two Matt Gardiner, Harriers made one change to their starting line-up for their final outing of the term; Arthur Gnahoua made his return to the starting line-up.

On-loan defender Lewis Kinsella missed out altogether after a calf injury cut short the end of his stint in Worcestershire - he made an early return to parent club Aston Villa.

In the sense of some good, some bad, the opening stages of this match encapsulated a torrid season as a whole.

Behind in six minutes but level inside nine, Harriers showed some sublime and sub-par moments that have, altogether, made their season both tragic but must-watch.

The first real moment to note of the day saw Harriers fall behind as, with their first attack, Southport won a penalty as they charged into the area, Louis Almond brought down by Dean Snedker as he was left exposed. Snedker survived with a yellow but was relatively powerless as the former Barrow man powered the resultant spot-kick home.

Yet no sooner had the dusted settled than Harriers restored parity - from despair to delight as a fine move saw a beauty of a cross from Francis-Angol find the boot of McQuilkin who ran on to it with a super volley that crashed into the back of the net.

Before the half-hour mark the two teams traded blows once more and might well have made it 2-2 - Gnahoua beating goalkeeper Max rocombe with his drive that flashed just past the post.

Southport's Phenix did something similar with a low drive that narrowly clipped past the foot of the far post.

It would be Harriers who took a lead into the interval and it was deserved - 38 minutes played when Elton Ngwatala slammed home a Zaine Francis-Angol cross.

Seemingly on the end of a tongue-lashing from Sandgrounders boss Andy Bishop at half-time, Southport came out quickly in the second half and set about grabbing an equaliser, danger-man Almond forcing Dean Snedker into strong save as he let fly from just outside the area.

As the hour mark came and went, the pressure Southport were building on the Harriers goal duly told - Ousmane Fane robbed of possession deep in his own half as Phenix was played in, the Port man drilling a shot towards Snedker's near-post that proved too hot to handle.

Not to be outdone on what was their divisional swansong, Harriers would find a third goal as we closed in on the final third of the game; young Academy graduate Tyrone Williams netting from just a few yards to tidy away an Evan Garnett cross.

The afternoon would get better for Harriers and especially Evan Garnett who rounded off a fine cameo by slotting in his first Harriers goal as he latched on to a Gnahoua pass, sub Ryan finding Southport's third deep in injury time.

HARRIERS: Snedker, Williams, Lowe, Langmead, Francis-Angol (Hodgkiss 85), Fane, Ngwatala, McQuilkin, Whitfield (Garnett 74) Sweeney (Patrick 46), Gnahoua.

Subs not used: Tunnicliffe, Brown.

SOUTHPORT: Crocombe, Jones, Wright, Thompson, Whittle (Hewitt 46), Nolan (Westcarr 85), Jones, Rutherford (Ryan 81), Blakeman, Almond, Phenix.

Subs not used: Coughlin, Challoner, Attendance: tbc Referee: Derek Eaton (Gloucestershire)