HARRIERS slipped to back-to-back league defeats after a disappointing afternoon and 2-0 set-back to Southport at Aggborough.

Harriers had begun the afternoon brightly, having made three changes to their starting lie-up with Ethan Freemantle restored following injury, Scott Burgess drafted back into the side, and debutant Joe Starbuck handed a start following his arrival from Sheffield United.

Starbuck and his new outfit looked a threat early on, and had the first chance of the game on seven minutes, Ethan Freemantle’s sweeping pass playing in Yusifu Ceesay who shot low, only to be denied by veteran goalkeeper Tony McMillan who made a solid block.

Much of the rest of the first half was disjointed and not helped by a flurry of yellow cards, most of which seemed a little excessive. With 26 minutes on the clock Tom Palmer made a comfortable save from Josh Hmami’s effort but the Sangrounders found themselves in front three minutes later when a long throw wasn’t dealt with by Harriers, Niall Watson on hand to divert the ball past Palmer in front of the home fans.

Harriers responded well to going behind and went close when Ceesay teed up Burgess who had a shot blocked by a covering defender – Starbuck with the hosts’ next chance, six after the restart, when his good run ended with a shot that McMillan met well.

Before Harriers could really put a spell together with that momentum, questionable defending cost them on 61 minutes when Marcus Carver was able to charge into the area and fire a low finish into the bottom corner.

The response was good, again, but Harriers were still never really able to properly extend McMillan who was out quickly to deny Ceesay as he charged on to Morgan-Smith’s knock-down six minutes later, and only Carver’s miscue in shooting wide by an inch prevented the Reds from going 3-0 down moments after that.

The introduction of Gabby Rogers from the bench did insert another spark into Harriers’ game, and Caleb Richards’ low shot in the final minute of the match almost reduced arrears, but the visitors held on to their clean sheet and, in all fairness, what was a deserved win.