Bristol Rovers 2 Kidderminster 0

AFTER the euphoria of their stirring home success against Scunthorpe it was normal service resumed for Harriers away from Aggborough.

A sixth straight away defeat meant that Kidderminster were back in familiar territory at the foot of the League Two table.

Harriers didn't arrive at the ground until half hour before kick off due to hold ups on the M5 so their pre-match preparations weren't great.

But although it was ultimately the same old sorry story for Jan Molby's men, this match didn't have the hallmarks of Harriers' previous defeats.

Not all of them anyway.

For although Kidderminster were lax at the back and could have conceded a hatful, they were encouragingly bright going forward and might have scored three or four themselves.

In the end it was the pace of Junior Agogo that clinched it for Rovers as it had done in Harriers 1-0 LDV Vans Trophy defeat last month.

Without exaggeration Agogo could and should have had at least a hat-trick and but for the heroics of John Danby he would have done.

Sadly the highest rated keeper in lower league football was powerless to prevent the opening goal on 21 minutes and Agogo's second after 74 minutes.

Up until that point Harriers had stood firm against Ian Atkins's men and in truth there was little to choose between the teams.

But the visitors' were caught napping midway through the first half and after accelerating onto Richard Walker's precise through ball, Agogo waltzed past the advancing Danby to roll the ball in.

Credit to Kidderminster they refused to capitulate and in terms of territory gave as good as they got.

New boy James Keene showed his Premiership class with a debut to be proud of and could have capped his Football League bow with a goal.

His first chance showed his bravery and determination when, with boots flying, he threw his head in for a diving effort which he was unable to direct towards goal from Portsmouth pal Shaun Cooper's cross.

His second opportunity would have been in the net had he elected to shoot sooner from Dean Keates's pass and it took a timely saving tackle from Harriers old boy Craig Hinton to deny him.

It was nip and tuck until the break with Keates forcing a few routine saves from Kevin Miller and Walker heading over a couple of chances at the other end.

The other significant moment of the first half was a knock which Danby picked up, but although the Harriers number one was in obvious pain he battled on brilliantly.

With Kidderminster - and particularly out-of-sorts Abdou Sall - susceptible to Rovers' ball over the top tactics, Danby took it upon himself to play sweeper at times.

And although the keeper's decision-making was questionable at times he more than made up for it with no fewer than six top class saves.

Agogo and substitutes Lee Thorpe and Jamie Forrester suffered as a result as Danby, and particularly, his legs, came out better from a series of one-on-ones.

Forrester could also feel hard done by not to have a penalty when a Wayne Hatswell slip let him in on goal only for Danby to seemingly upend him.

Still Harriers refused to throw in the towel and the introduction of Iyseden Christie for the last 20 minutes saw the big striker come close with a glancing header and a snapshot and even closer when he got behind the defence only to fluff his finish.

Rovers desperately needed a second goal to kill off the game and it duly arrived 16 minutes from time when Thorpe broke down the right and crossed for Agogo for the simplest of tap ins.

ROVERS (4-4-2): Miller, Hinton, Ryan, Anderson, Edwards, Campbell (Disley 82), Trollope, Lescott, Hunt, Walker (Thorpe 65), Agogo (Forrester 79). Subs not used: Williams, Burns.

HARRIERS (4-4-2): DANBY 9, McHale 6, Cooper 7, Hatswell 6, Sall 5, Foster 6, Christiansen 6, Keates 7, Jenkins 6, Langmead 7 (Christie 71, 8), Keene 8. Subs not used: Lewis, Advice Desruisseaux, Russell, McMahon.

REFEREE: Keith Stroud (Dorset).

ATTENDANCE: 7,020 (away fans 234).