IF the proposed Kidderminster Harriers takeover consortium popped into Sixfields for a sneaky look at their potential investment on Saturday, they won't have learned much new.

For in their 230th and final Football League game it was same old Harriers as they finally drew a line under a season which effectively ended a fortnight ago in Boston.

Stuart Watkiss's men sported the same beaten look they have done in the past two games and despite a brave effort, their five-year stay in League Two was always destined to end in disappointment.

Northampton's greater need for the points to secure a play-off place was bound to eclipse Kidderminster's wish to restore some pride and so it proved.

Harriers, fielding a surprise line up which included debutant keeper Dan Lewis and recalled outcast Abdou Sall, held up well early on but eventually succumbed to the Cobblers pressure.

Kidderminster had a couple of chances to take the lead in the first half with Sall having a strike ruled out for an infringement and Mark Rawle just failing to make contact with an inviting ball across the goalmouth by Adam Chambers.

But the defensive deficiencies that have haunted Harriers all year were plain to see as the Cobblers took their opponents' woeful goals against tally to 85 for the season.

Andy Kirk served notice of Northampton's intent with a chance in the first minute from Wayne Hatswell's weak back header, but the Northern Ireland striker dragged his effort wide.

Half chances came and went for the promotion-chasing hosts and but for the reactions of Lewis, Harriers could have found themselves well and truly buried.

The young keeper was the victor in a one-on-one with Kirk midway through the second half, but the former Boston man did not take long to exact his revenge.

With Lewis pulling out all the stops to first deny Josh Low and then Kirk again from Northampton's next attack, he was powerless to pick himself off the floor as Kirk headed in the rebound to put the hosts in front.

From then on Colin Calderwood's men, who were obviously feeling the pressure of their promotion push, threw off the shackles and took Harriers apart.

The second and third goals were carbon copies of one another as substitute Eric Sabin twice got behind the visitors' defence to pick out Low, who made no mistake with close range finishes on 85 and 87 minutes.

After that it was shooting practice for the Cobblers as Lewis pulled off a hat-trick of saves to deny Sabin, while poor finishing also let Northampton down.

The fact that by then Watkiss's relegated side had been reduced to 10-men hardly helped matters, especially as the hosts should also have had a man sent off on 74 minutes.

With frustration clearly getting the better of Kidderminster midfielder John McGrath, he deserved to go for butting Charley Hearn in an altercation that provoked a 20-man brawl.

But the Cobblers man seemed to give as good as he got, aiming his own forehead in McGrath's direction, only to escape with a booking.

That clearly annoyed Watkiss, who became embroiled in a heated exchange with Hearn and his manager when he was substituted moments later, but by then it was all of little consequence to Kidderminster.

Watkiss and Co have more pressing concerns.

The Aggborough manager spent Monday deciding the futures of his players. His own future and that of the board and the club may take a little while longer to resolve.

NORTHAMPTON: Harper, L Chambers, Willmott, Murray, Kirk (Hunt 88), Low, McGleish (Richards 88), Rowson, Hearn (Sabin 77), Williamson, Togwell. Subs not used: Bunn, Galbraith.

HARRIERS: LEWIS 8, Weaver 6, Burton 5, Hatswell 6, Sall 5, Keates 6, Chambers 5, McGrath 5, Sturrock 6 (Hollis 86), Rawle 6, Christie 5 (Foster 66, 5). Subs not used: Danby, McHale, Jones.

REFEREE: Mr T Parkes (West Midlands)

ATTENDANCE: 6,786 (away fans 434).