Harriers missed out by the odd goal in three at Spennymoor as a 2-1 set-back saw their troubling form continue.

Not for the first occasion in recent times, Harriers were forced into changes for the trip. Ryan Johsnon, beginning the first of a three-match suspension for his sending off against Hereford over Christmas, was replaced in the eleven by Josh Heaton.

Switching to a back-four, Harriers gave a first start to Aaron Phillips at full-back with Sam Austin pushed further forward, Joe Ironside also handed a place up top after being recalled from his loan spell at York City.

Harriers began purposefully and created the best of the early chances – Weeks firing over and Richards heading wide inside the opening quarter-hour, Ironside soon after seeing his attempted drive closed down. In between, Hall parried well from Brogan’s free-kick.

Past the half-hour, Harriers’ chances became more and more clear- cut. Austin’s superb work saw him sweep a cross at the by-line back to Chambers who saw a shot blocked, before Richards, at point-blank range, was thwarted by a save from goalkeeper Gould, Austin himself then curling just wide with the follow-up.

Eight before the break Richard should have put the team ahead when, played in on goal, he took the ball around Hall, only for the stopper to quickly get back to smother the danger, Harriers hit at the other end when Spennymoor struck on the stroke of the interval, Johnson applying the finish from a tight angle.

Harriers responded in barely a minute, however – Phillips the man on the end of a driven Vaughan free-kick to give the visitors a goal. The scores would stay level for just five minutes after the restart, though, when a collision between two Harriers defenders enabled Hall to nip in and finish past his namesake.

Richards and Ironside were both then smothered out in their attempts to respond before Tuton twice tried his luck and forced good saves from Hall up at the other end, the Harriers custodian then excelling themselves to keep out Taylor’s rising effort.

Spennymoor had shouts for a handball in the area waved away inside the final 15 before Austin struck over from ten yards out, Harriers charging often enough towards the Moors goal but without seriously testing Gould in the final stages.

Harriers: Hall, Vaughan, Phillips, Horsfall, Heaton (Baxendale 89), Austin (Butterfield 78), Chambers, Richards (White 90), Penn, Weeks, Ironside.

Subs not used: Palmer, Higginson

Referee: A. Bannister