HARRIERS 2, BOSTON 0

AT least six players were given what turned out to be their Kidderminster Harriers swansong on Saturday.

Stuart Brock, Scott Stamps, Matt Gadsby, John Williams, Sean Parrish and Mark Yates, who all started in the 2-0 defeat of Boston, were told they would be released less than 48 hours later.

Striker Williams crowned his final appearance with a well-taken second goal, his fifth of the season, on 73 minutes, inspired by a determined run from the versatile Gadsby.

Brock, Harriers' longest serving player, kept a pleasing clean sheet, while Stamps, Parrish and Yates gave typically whole-hearted displays.

Kidderminster's victory over lethargic Boston lifted them to a final position of 16th in Division Three, 10 points away from relegated Carlisle.

But, in a season of consistent struggle, director of football Jan Molby has reacted by wielding the axe as expected.

His brave decision, with one or two surprises perhaps for supporters, means a major summer rebuilding job for the Dane.

It gives Molby a chance to put his own team together and there can be no doubt fresh blood is needed, especially if his 4-3-3 formation is to be successful.

Harriers were quick off the blocks at the weekend and should have been ahead before a fortunate opener on 21 minutes.

The pace of Yates' header back across goal was too much for Williams who guided the ball over on seven minutes.

Williams then saw Paul Ellender nod away his shot after keeper Paul Bastock saved at the feet of Parrish following David Noble's sloppy back-pass.

But impressive on-loan midfielder Simon Brown pulled the trigger on 21 minutes when his fierce 22-yard drive rebounded off the post and into the net via the hapless Bastock.

Like his effort against Huddersfield last month, it went down as an own goal and Brown deserved more than his final total of two from eight games.

Tough-tackling full-back Stamps nearly claimed his first Football League strike for Harriers on 27 minutes but his impressive acrobatic volley flew straight at the Boston keeper from Parrish's cross.

Yates twice saw long-range efforts test Bastock but if Boston were going to equalise, it would have been in the final 15 minutes of the first half.

The visitors had their only bright spell as firstly Noble's free-kick deflected onto the top of the bar off the wall just after the half-hour mark.

Brock defied former Hull midfielder Steve Melton by tipping over in a one-on-one situation and then Wayne Hatswell rose to clear with a crucial header from Lee Beevers' in-swinging shot.

In a second half which could be best summed up as end-of-season fare, Harriers' back four were given few problems.

Brown, always looking to make something happen, unleashed a rising 30-yarder over on 55 minutes.

But it took a magical moment from Gadsby on 73 minutes to liven up proceedings as the midfielder surged past four players from the half-way line.

His run and final pass was matched by Williams' excellent left-foot strike from 18 yards into Bastock's bottom right-hand corner.

It was an excellent way to sign off for the popular former postman who delivered Harriers' famous FA Cup goal against Wolves this season.

HARRIERS: Brock 7; Hinton 7, Sall 7, Hatswell 7, Stamps 7; Yates 6 (McHale 87), Gadsby 7; Parrish 7; BROWN 8 (Murray 83), Williams 6, Rickards 5 (Christiansen 55, 6). Subs not used: Burton, Jenkins.

BOSTON: Bastock; Beevers (Hurst 68), Greaves, Ellender, Chapman (Balmer 59); Noble, Rusk, Melton, Thomas; Thompson, Jones. Subs not used: Angel, Croudson, Cropper.

ATTENDANCE: 3,047.

SHOTS ON: Harriers 6, Boston 2.

SHOTS OFF: Harriers 5, Boston 2.

CORNERS: Harriers 6, Boston 7.

GOALS: Bastock (og) 21, Williams 73.

YELLOW CARDS: Harriers 2 (Williams, Stamps), Boston 3 (Noble, Ellender, Greaves).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Simon Brown. His pace and trickery is too good for Division Three so it will be a major coup if Jan Molby can bring him back on loan next season.