KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Stuart Watkiss is turning up the heat in his striker search after their front men drew a blank at Worcester City in last night's 2-0 defeat.

Watkiss saw a strong Harriers team brought down to earth and there were worrying signs for fans ahead of the Nationwide Conference campaign.

The Harriers boss was delighted with his side's possession football but is determined they will not be short of cutting edge for long, despite promising moments from Iyseden Christie and winger Michael Blackwood.

Watkiss is hoping to sign at least two players from a list of five he is pursuing, including ex-Scunthorpe midfielder Wayne Graves who did not play at St George's Lane.

But he admitted: "We are doing all we can to get a striker in but it's not that easy. They have to fall into our budget and be geographically feasible as well as the type of player we need.

"We are not a great pull as we've just been relegated from the Football League and -- for whatever reason -- there's still that stigma attached to the Conference.

"Players want to stay in the Football League. You could attract them with money but we're not in that position."

Of last night's game, Watkiss said: "The team shape and the way we controlled the game was really good.

"We must have had 90 to 95 per cent of the game but we lost the game in the penalty areas where they were better than us.

"But we don't want to have a team this year that controls games and out-passes teams but ends up losing 1-0 or 2-0."

Worcester got off to a flier on 21 minutes as skipper Lyttle picked up a helpful ricochet from Hines' set-piece to lash a right-foot shot past John Danby.

Christie spurned two excellent opportunities within the space of three minutes later in the half, firstly firing wide after a one-two with Lee Thompson, then sending a low drive off target.

Kelly put the game beyond Harriers on 83 minutes when he shrugged off the challenge of Wayne Hatswell to guide a neat shot home.

Harriers: Danby, Evans, Hatswell, O'Connor, Jackson, Burgess, Sheldon, Fleming, Christie, Thompson, Blackwood. Subs not used: Burton, Lewis, Russell, Wilson, Hollis, Hurren, Penn.