HARRIERS 0 MACCLESFIELD 2

BOSS Ian Britton was not the only one to have a bad feeling about Saturday's game with old Conference rivals Macclesfield.

Unbeaten in nine Division Three matches and all season at Aggborough, Harriers were there to be shot at by their lowly visitors.

Also take into account the previous week's 1-0 win over Hull City, a result that must have gone some way to landing former boss Jan Molby the sack.

Despite Harriers' impressive form, the omens were probably not good for the weekend and they were perhaps due a dodgy display.

They in fact served up a stinker with Britton admitting he had "a feeling this might happen".

But Harriers' second Division Three defeat was also down to a good display from injury-hit Macclesfield who attacked with purpose and defended like tigers.

Britton shifted Craig Hinton back to the defence and brought in loan man Kenny Coleman at right wing-back.

The move did not work but then for once this season little the Harriers manager or his hapless players did came off.

However, if this is indeed a one-off blip then Harriers fans still have much to be optimistic about.

With Drewe Broughton suspended and Dean Bennett ill, the home side struggled to get out of first gear all match.

Keeper Stuart Brock dived to his left to collect a 20-yard shot from impressive probing midfielder Danny Whitaker on three minutes.

Whitaker fired two more shots off-target and Brock denied striker Matthew Tipton.

Harriers woke up with Coleman's drive stopped by Steve Wilson on 13 minutes and the recalled Ian Foster striking wide from 25 yards.

But there was an air of inevitability about Macclesfield's opening goal when it arrived on 31 minutes.

Whitaker tapped a free-kick to Michael Welch whose shot broke the wall and beat Brock low to his right.

Harriers struggled so much that the bursting runs of Scott Stamps from defence were often their greatest hope.

A minute before half-time, Stamps swapped passes with Sam Shilton but shot into the side-netting.

Shilton forced a good save from Wilson early in the second half after breaking into the box.

And Foster will be left ruing his missed chance on 51 minutes when he blazed wide from an acute angle after rounding the stranded keeper.

It was the home side's final opportunity as they failed to raise their game above pedestrian pace.

Macclesfield broke well and Brock was well positioned to tip over from Tipton on the hour.

The Harriers keeper inexplicably gave the ball away to the same player soon after but was saved by a weak finish.

There was no rescuing anyone in red and white on 71 minutes when Kyle Lightbourne's excellent cross was flashed past Brock by debutant David Eaton's diving header.

Fellow sub George Abbey crashed the ball narrowly wide 10 minutes from time as Harriers were almost further humbled.

HARRIERS: Brock 6; Hinton 6, Ayres 6, STAMPS 8; Coleman 5 (Doyle 76), Melligan 6, Williams 5 (Smith 82), Flynn 6, Shilton 6; Foster 5, Henriksen 5. Subs: Danby, Ducros, Joy.

MACCLESFIELD: Wilson; Ridler, Tinson, O'Neill; Hitchen, Whitaker (Robinson 88), Welch, Hardy (Abbey 60), Adams; Tipton (Eaton 70), Lightbourne. Subs: Martin, Askey.

ATTENDANCE: 2,521.

SHOTS ON: Harriers 7, Macclesfield 8.

SHOTS OFF: Harriers 8, Macclesfield 9.

CORNERS: Harriers 6, Macclesfield 1.

GOALS: Welch 31, Eaton 71.

YELLOW CARDS: Harriers 0, Macclesfield 2 (Welch, Hardy).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Scott Stamps. Never stopped trying as the Harriers performance collapsed around him. Defended well and often provided the main threat in attacking moves too.