KIDDERMINSTER Harriers lost ground on National League North leaders Gloucester City after a second league defeat in three matches as Hereford FC came from behind to win 3-1 at Edgar Street on Saturday.

Harriers are now six points behind Gloucester, albeit with two games on hand but after their shock defeat to Stamford in the FA Trophy last time out, they have now lost three of their last four in all competitions.

The Boxing Day clash saw Harriers make the short trip to Hereford for the festive clash and they started in the best possible way when a corner was controlled and planted home by Luke Maxwell.

That silenced the home fans, but they soon found their voice a little over ten minutes later as they levelled, a swift forward move and James McQuilkin left in too much space as he angled a finish past Harriers' keeper Luke Simpson into the far corner.

Just before the half our mark, the game swung on a straight red card for The Reds' Amari Morgan-Smith after going in late on goalkeeper Brandon Hall, leaving the visitors with a mountain to climb with still over 60 minutes to play.

The mountain got steeper still three minutes after the break as Chris Camwell rifled a tremendous finish from long range past Simpson to give the Bulls the lead.

Continuing a worrying trend from recent matches, Harriers offered next to nothing as a real threat in front of goal – as much with ten men as eleven.

The home side were happy to sit back on their advantage and eventually Lennell John-Lewis put the affair to bed with the third goal late on, a powerful header from a corner that again left Simpson with little chance between the sticks.

Given the fixture was a local derby, assistant manager Jimmy O'Connor admits it was a difficult result to take.

"Being a local derby, we're obviously very disappointed," he said.

"We started the game strongly and competed really well, scored well from a corner, which was something we identified pre-game.

"They then got their equaliser which I thought was a bit against the run of play but those things happen in football sometimes.

"The sending off maed things difficult and then we were chasing things when we went a goal down.

"I will have to look back at the replay to judge the red card but it was a long time with ten men but we have to move on quickly."

Harriers were due to host AFC Telford in the league on Monday afternoon, but heavy snow caused that fixture to be postponed and their next game will again be Hereford, this time at home on January 2 (3pm).