TWO moments of defensive madness from Kidderminster Harriers allowed Stevenage Borough to plunder three points in Hertfordshire.

Spirited Harriers more than matched the Blue Square Premier title-chasers at the Lamex Stadium but were shot down by strikes from Jon Ashton and Mitchell Cole.

Defeat means they lost ground on their fellow play-off hopefuls and stretched their winless run to four matches.

Harriers started brightly and could have opened the scoring as they dominated the first 20 minutes and carved out several decent chances.

Damian Spencer demonstrated the visitors’ attacking intent when he shot wide early on.

David McDermott also saw a spectacular dipping effort hit the bar.

Harriers’ best chance fell to the robust Spencer in the 21st minute, when he rose well to meet McDermott’s free-kick and glanced a header towards goal but keeper Chris Day did well to claw it off the line.

Borough grew in stature and top- scorer Charlie Griffin headed an effort onto keeper Dean Coleman’s left-hand post.

The away side were defending solidly but got caught out in the 36th minute in controversial fashion.

Defender Ashton rose well to meet Scott Laird’s free-kick and head the ball into the back of the net, even though several home players looked offside.

Worse was to come for the visitors 30 seconds into the second-half, when, from their own kick-off, Harriers slipped 2-0 behind.

Former Harriers hit-man Chris Beardsley looked offside when Cole slammed home a fine left-foot shot.

Harriers worked hard to get back into the game but didn’t really trouble Day in the opposition goal, despite throwing on Aaron Farrell, Darryl Knights and Ryan Charles.

Farrell tried his best to score and he came close when Brian Smikle played him through but he dragged his shot wide.

However, Harriers never worried the hosts and their goal-drought stretched to three games since the departure of top-scorer Matthew Barnes-Homer to Luton Town.

Harriers: Coleman, Caines, Courtney (Knights 87), Riley, Andrew, McPhee, Bennett, Smikle, McDermott (Charles 60), Matthews (Farrell 70), Spencer. Subs not used: Baker, Hayward.

Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire).

Attendance: 1,809.