HARRIERS 0 SWANSEA 2

Division Three game number 11 and under-pressure Kidderminster Harriers fire another blank.

Boss Jan Molby was feeling under the weather in the build-up to this fixture and a 2-0 defeat to his former club will have done him no good whatsoever.

Harriers lost their unbeaten league record at Aggborough and it took only the first 20 minutes to decide their fate.

Worrying signs indeed for those Harriers fans who have supported their club throughout the tough Football League introduction.

Their team have scored the least number of goals - five - in the whole Nationwide League and that makes errors from their unlucky defence all the more costly.

Missed chances, and there were very good opportunities on Saturday, are something they can ill afford.

Harriers lifted their second half display but lost their discipline two minutes from the end with a brawl in the home penalty area, not a regular occurrence at games over the years.

Although too late for keeper Stuart Brock's dismissal to mean anything on the pitch, it said a lot for the players' frustration at the current state of their campaign.

Caught by young substitute Nathan Tyson's late challenge, Brock - without doubt the player of the season so far - lashed out at his opponent.

Around a dozen players piled in, many possibly acting as peace-makers, and the resulting skirmish really did reflect on Harriers' recent woes. Brock and Tyson were red carded.

Molby's men had shown an improvement at Hartlepool and at home to Oxford but they were back to square one in Saturday's first half.

Yet it could have all been so different on four minutes when on-loan Colin Larkin was released by strike partner Dean Bennett but shot straight at keeper Roger Freestone.

If the speedy Larkin's effort had found the net, Harriers' confidence would have been up and they may well have gone on to win, perhaps comfortably.

But one incident can change a match and it was Swansea instead who took the lead three minutes later.

Left-back Ian Joy was caught out by Stuart Roberts' curled pass over his head and wing-back Lee Jenkins nipped in round the back to tuck a crisp finish home from 12 yards.

Harriers did not let their heads go down and Larkin raced down the right before pulling back a nice cross that Bennett volleyed just wide on the run with his left foot.

But unfortunately the result of Swansea's second on 20 minutes did have a negative impact for the rest of the half.

John Williams muscled defender Adie Smith off the ball, ran clear and finished clinically past Brock.

As skipper Mark Blake received a harsh sixth booking of the season, Harriers were snuffed out completely until half-time.

Molby made a risky triple substitution at the interval with Danny Williams, Sam Shilton and Drewe Broughton brought on - and it made some difference.

Broughton, whose transfer to Oxford had collapsed, was back to his typical aggressive self and was always looking to get into the action.

But his finishing let him down badly, including volleying a close-range 49th minute effort over after a cross from Bennett.

Former Bromsgrove player Bennett had been switched to midfield and later donned the goalkeeper's jersey when Brock was dismissed.

Broughton controlled Ian Clarkson's long pass well to get a sight of goal on 75 minutes but his final effort was too close to Freestone.

The big forward also headed over when he should have done better - but he was certainly a threat and seems Molby's best hope of ending the goal drought.

Until that happens, Harriers will continue to be stranded among the Division Three strugglers.

Harriers: Brock 5; Clarkson 5, Shail 5, Smith 5, Joy 5; Bird 5 (BROUGHTON 46, 6), Davies 5 (Williams 46, 5), Blake 6, Stamps 5 (Shilton 46, 5); Bennett 5, Larkin 5. Subs not used: Murphy, Sall.

Swansea: Freestone; O'Leary, Bound, Todd; Jenkins, Appleby (Mumford 66), Cusack, Phillips, Howard; Roberts, Williams (Tyson 86). Subs not used: Jones, De-Vulgt, Romo.

Attendance: 2,796.

Shots on: Harriers 3 Swansea 2

Shots off: Harriers 9 Swansea 9

Corners: Harriers 2 Swansea 1

Yellow cards: Harriers 4 (Blake, Clarkson, Joy, Shail), Swansea 2 (Phillips, Roberts)

Red cards: Harriers 1 (Brock), Swansea 1 (Tyson)

Shuttle Star Man: Drewe Broughton.

Should have scored at least one goal but did make some difference when he was brought on as substitute. No-one really stood out.