KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have good reason to feel confident about their forthcoming Nationwide League Division Three campaign despite slipping to a 2-1 defeat against a strong West Bromwich Albion side at Aggborough on Saturday.

Harriers took the lead with a 50th minute own goal from Bernt Haas before the Baggies bounced back with two late strikes within a minute from substitute Scott Dobie.

It was Kidderminster's first pre-season defeat but for the second time in a week produced a highly encouraging performance. The previous Monday they drew 1-1 at home to Premiership newcomers Leicester City.

Boss Ian Britton's men will step up their 'warm-up' programme against Walsall at Aggborough on Wednesday (7.30pm) and then visit Hereford United on Saturday (3pm) before launching their Division Three season with a home clash against Mansfield Town on Saturday, August 9.

Watched by a crowd of 4,929, Harriers served up a display which had Albion at full stretch until the closing stages when Dobie struck twice to seal a hard earned victory.

Britton said: "I thought we deserved a draw. After being 1-0 up until the 81st minute I felt at least a draw was on for us. We lost our concentration and to be fair to West Brom over the last seven or eight minutes they ran us a little. But that was the only time they did. Certainly for 80 minutes I was well pleased.

"I thought our fitness level was very good and we passed it around just as well as them, if not better at times. The two friendlies we've had so far at home the fans have certainly had their money's worth and seen some really good football."

Harriers took the lead when Haas knocked the ball into his own net following an difficult cross from Kyle Lightbourne, who was one of a number of trialists Harriers paraded throughout the game.

Kidderminster, however, began to ease up in the closing stages to enable Gary Megson's side to get back on terms when Dobie took full advantage of a defence-splitting through ball by Jason Koumas.

Koumas then sent over a pin-point cross which delighted Dobie headed in from close-range.

Albion, who introduced former Harriers striker Lee Hughes as a 73rd minute substitute, nearly scored a third in the last minute when keeper Stuart Brock just managed to push a fierce Neil Clement free kick onto the bar.

Kidderminster: Brock, Coleman, Stamps, Williams, Hinton (Smith, 70), Willis, Bennett (Ward, 61), Flynn (Parrish, 72), Lightbourne (Henriksen, 63), Lewis (Wilding, 87), Narada (Shilton, 46). Sub (not used): Ayres.