A YEAR ago, Jan Molby hit rock bottom with Kidderminster Harriers after seeing his side suffer their fourth defeat in five games at the start of his non-league managerial career.

A 3-2 loss at Forest Green Rovers prompted the Dane to call an emergency meeting back at Aggborough with assistant Gary Barnett to go through the reasons behind the awful start.

Molby eventually came up with a solution, a 4-3-2-1 formation which France had used so successfully in winning the 1998 World Cup.

And after a win at runaway Conference leaders Stevenage Borough in their very next match, Kidderminster have not looked back since.

Once again, the tactic paid dividends on Bank Holiday Monday when one of the favourites the Division Three title - Brighton & Hove Albion - were left bemused, running out of ideas in a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Molby's men.

Two shots on target, two goals and complete justification for playing the system which had worked so well to frustrate Walsall the previous week.

Harriers rode their luck in the first-half at a sunny Withdean as Bobby Zamora crashed an effort against the under-side of the bar but eventually stood firm with Stuart Brock back in goal because of a knee injury to Tim Clarke.

Scott Stamps also succumbed to a knee problem in the first-half and was replaced by Adie Smith just before the break.

Brock played a central part in the first goal, throwing the ball 30 yards to Tony Bird who flew past his marker and laid the ball on a plate for Ian Foster to crack home his first goal of the season in the 52nd minute.

It was a lighting break, with the ball hitting the back of the net just 10 seconds after leaving Brock's gloves.

It was game, set and match 15 minutes later when Ian Bogie's delightfully weighted pass set up the impressive Dean Bennett for a top-class finish.

Harriers defended resiliently for the remainder of the game with Brock pulling off a fine save and Craig Hinton outstanding at centre-half.

The only scare for Kidderminster came when a Danny Cullip header clipped the bar midway through the second half.

The win took them third in Division Three - what a difference a year makes!

It proved a fruitful weekend for Harriers after overcoming Halifax Town 2-1 at Aggborough on Saturday.

Stewart Hadley scored two goals in two minutes after the visitors had shocked the disappointing 2,956 crowd with a 20th minute Steve Gaughan opener.

Hadley took the goals well after fine work from Bennett and Andy Ducros.

The real talking point of the game, however, came just after half-time when Smith's handball in the box gave the Shaymen a chance to level the scores with a penalty.

Clarke saved Steve Thompson's spot-kick to add to Halifax's growing feeling of injustice, believing Smith should have been sent off for the offence.

Bird received his marching orders midway through the second half for a second bookable offence but Harriers held on and could have scored more late on.