QPR 2, HARRIERS 0

PUNCHLESS Kidderminster Harriers failed to make it beyond the opening LDV Trophy round for the first time on Tuesday.

Harriers battled gamefully against one of Division Two's top sides and a former Premier League club in QPR.

But that does not disguise the fact they did not muster a single shot on target, three days after taking 84 minutes to create a chance against fellow Division Three strugglers Southend.

It almost seems as if Harriers are pinning their hopes on Danny Williams' free-kicks from outside the box to score goals at the moment.

Under-fire boss Ian Britton switched to a four-man back-line and a better defensive showing kept out promotion-chasing QPR until the 40th minute.

The pacy home side, who took the chance to rest a string of regular first teamers, should have opened the scoring on eight minutes though.

Striker Dennis Oli crossed for Marcus Bean in front of goal but his fellow teenager headed over the bar.

Keeper Stuart Brock saw Oli fire across the goal and then was grateful to hold an effort from Richard Pacquette.

Harriers, missing the injured Bo Henriksen while moving Rob Betts, Adam Willis and Matt Lewis to the substitutes bench, did break forward on 14 minutes.

Scott Stamps, restored to left-back, released the forward-thinking John Melligan but the loan signing shot tamely wide.

Melligan, operating just behind John Williams, then latched onto a poor back pass from former Newcastle man Warren Barton but he hesitated and was dispossessed by defender Terrell Forbes.

But slick QPR, second in Division Two, became the dominant force again and seized a vital break-through five minutes before half-time.

Summer signing Eric Sabin sailed past Stamps on the right wing and squared for Pacquette to give Brock no chance with a far-post finish.

Danger man Oli blazed over close to the interval from the edge of the area when he should have put the game beyond Harriers.

But a dull second period saw QPR easily holding onto their one-goal lead although wide man Martin Rowlands did provide some threat for the home side.

Rowlands, who faced Harriers for Farnborough in the Conference days, sent two shots off target but Ian Holloway's team later grabbed a second goal as they turned the screw again.

Centre-half Arthur Gnohere rose over a statuesque defence to nod home Gino Padula's corner from close range on 82 minutes and seal QPR's progress into the second round.

A hamstring injury to Melligan was more of a worry to Harriers though, which meant a brief run-out for Lewis.

Midfielders Dean Bennett and Sean Parrish, making a rare appearance, had been introduced earlier with little effect, though the latter did just miss the target with an ambitious long-range curler in the last minute.

The visitors avoided a hiding from their hosts but the continued lack of firepower will continue to put further pressure on Harriers defenders with more tough league clashes ahead.

QPR: Culkin; Barton, Forbes, Gnohere, Padula; Sabin, Bean, Bircham (Palmer 80), Rowlands; Oli (Gallen 74), Pacquette (Thorpe 74). Subs not used: Ainsworth, Furlong.

HARRIERS: Brock 6; COLEMAN 7, Smith 6, Hinton 6, Stamps 6; Ward 5, Gadsby 6 (Parrish 71), D Williams 6, Shilton 5 (Bennett 55, 5); Melligan 6 (Lewis 80); J Williams 5. Subs not used: Willis, Betts.

ATTENDANCE: 3,671.

SHOTS ON: QPR 7, Harriers 0.

SHOTS OFF: QPR 8, Harriers 3.

CORNERS: QPR 3, Harriers 4.

GOALS: Pacquette 40, Gnohere 81.

YELLOW CARDS: QPR 2 (Pacquette, Sabin), Harriers 0.

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Kenny Coleman. A solid return from Coleman who was in what appears to be his position at right-back. Had been left out for the last six games.