KIDDERMINSTER Harriers' Third Division play-off hopes took a jolt when they went down 1-0 to rivals Lincoln City at Sincil Bank last night.

After the disappointment of dropping a point at home to strugglers Swansea last Saturday, Kidderminster were hoping to bounce back but failed to create a clear-cut opening in the entire 90 minutes.

Had it not been for two goal-line clearances from Craig Hinton, plus the intervention of the crossbar, then Lincoln could have chalked up a far more convincing victory.

After a bright start in which home striker Shayne Bradley twice threatened the Harriers' goal, he made it third time lucky after 15 minutes.

Diminutive Lincoln winger Chris Cornelly was allowed to run across the box and turn, before lashing in a shot which Fraser Digby parried.

However, it was Bradley who reacted quickest to blast the ball home from eight yards.

Despite being under the cosh for the rest of the half, the visitors restricted Lincoln to half chances.

After Lincoln dangerman Cornelly was forced to limp off just three minutes into the second-half, Harriers got themselves back into the game and the impressive Andrew Bishop turned sweetly in the area but saw his low shot saved.

The Imps went close again just before the hour when Mayo picked the ball up 40-yards out. He was allowed to run to the edge of the box before lashing a stinging drive against the underside of the bar.

Drewe Broughton replaced Ian Foster in the 71st minute and he gave Harriers a much-needed lift.

A solitary goal is always a precarious lead, and after two successive defeats Lincoln started to look edgy in the final 10 minutes.

Although they applied pressure and Broughton had two efforts comfortably saved, Harriers never looked like stealing a point.

To make matters worse, Lee Ayres was stretchered off in the injury time following a late challenge by Lincoln sub Daniel Webb which earned him a booking.

"Obviously it's disappointing, it's disappointing to lose any match," said Harriers' manager Ian Britton.

"But generally I thought we did quite well, and in the second-half the more we got the ball down and played, the more confident I became we could get something.

"They've had chances, we've had a couple -- they've got the points when we could so easily have taken at least a point."

Kidderminster: Digby 6, Smith 7, Ayres 7 (sub Stamps 90), Scott 6, Hinton 7, Foster 6 (sub Broughton 71 6), Flynn 6, Williams 6, Parris 7, Shilton 7, Bishop 8.

Star Man: Andrew Bishop (led the line superbly).

Attendance: 4,092 (126 from Kidderminster).