HARRIERS continued their concerning run of form with a 2-0 defeat at Boston that leaves them struggling at the wrong end of National League North. 

The men from Aggborough are perilously perched just two places above the drop zone after two first half goals at York Street were enough to condemn the side to a third defeat in four minutes.

Jimmy Shan named an unchanged side to face the Pilgrims, after an impressive draw against Spennymoor Town. Ed Williams had trained and travelled with the squad but needed to make do with a spot on the bench. Rhys Williams, meanwhile, served the last of his three-match ban.

Harriers did begin the game well enough, and threatened through Wolves loanee Samuels on 12 minutes when he saw a header well saved – the hosts drawing a fine double stop from Mannion at the other end soon after Mulhern and Tanoj both went close.

Come the half hour, a brace of  chances really ought to have resulted in the first goal of the day for Harriers, but when Chambers saw his effort blocked on to the post and Samuels was denied, one-on-one, by Crook between the sticks, you sensed it might be another one of those afternoons. 

The damage was all done, in truth, inside eight minutes during which time the play-off chasing Pilgrims netted twice. First, Mulhern was left in too much space at one end of the six-yard box as he deftly lifted the ball to Knowles , also free who nodded past Mannion. Two minutes before the break it was 2-0 as Knowles, leading a Boston counter, got his second with a low shot that rolled past Mannion with the aid of a deflection.

The hosts threatened very little in the second period but, realistically, they weren’t pushed into doing so as they saw the result out with relative comfort.

Harriers did continue to press at least and, near the hour, they had another key chance when the influential Samuels angled a shot that looked a good bet for the bottom far corner before Crook got a good hand to it, tipping it wide.

Mulhern headed wide and, on a hat-trick, Knowles spurned an opening with a shot at close range, but there was to be no addition to the score. 

Meanwhile, there was significant contract news for the club this week with the announcement that Sam Austin has extended his stay at Aggborough. 

The versatile fan favourite has made nearly 150 appearances since joining in 2006, and penned a contract on Friday to extend that stay to the summer of 2021.

Leaving Aggborough, however, was striker Richard Peniket, who has chosen to take an extended break from football for “personal reasons.”

The striker said: “I’d like to wish the staff and players all the best for the rest of the season. I’d also like to thank Kidderminster Harriers for their support.”

HARRIERS: Mannion, Austin, Shenton (Nabi 72), Butterfield (Williams 88), Prosser, Johnson, Moyo, Lowe, Hemmings, Chambers, Samuels. 

Subs not used: Palmer, Davidson, Freemantle

Referee: Ed Duckworth

Attendance: 1,287