KIDDERMINSTER Harriers suffered their first pre-season defeat when they went down 4-2 to First Division Reading at Aggborough last night.

The Royals took the lead in the 12th minute through Nicky Forster, but Harriers hit back seven minutes later when striker Drewe Broughton bundled the ball in from close range following a Lee Ayres free-kick.

Bo Henriksen put Kidderminster in front after half-an-hour with a dipping shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Reading equalised three minutes before half-time when a cross from Foster spun off Aggborough newcomer Sean Parrish and ended up in the net.

Harriers made a number of substitutes after the break when Reading sealed victory with goals from Martin Butler (53 minutes) and John Salako (58).

Watched by a crowd of 814, manager Ian Britton's men created several good openings but were unable to add the final touches.

Tomorrow they are involved in another friendly at Dr Martens Western Division side Solihull Borough (3pm).

Two excellent first-half goals condemned Hereford United to a 2-0 defeat against a strong Tranmere Rovers side at Edgar Street last night in their opening pre-season friendly, writes IAN MORGAN.

A slick glancing header from former Cardiff City striker Simon Haworth broke the deadlock on the half-hour and then Canadian U20 international Ian Hume sealed the Second Division club's triumph with a blistering 25-yard drive five minutes before the interval.

Although the victory was fairly comfortable for the Merseyside club, the performances of the lively Paul Parry, midfielder Ben Smith and trialist Danny Williams will have encouraged the Hereford fans in a crowd of 867.

Parry looked United's most impressive player in the first-half, firing a left-foot shot over the bar as the Bulls controlled the opening exchanges without finding a finishing touch.

Left-back Michael Rose, trialist David McNivan and Smith also fired over for Hereford but Rod Giggs, brother of Manchester United star Ryan, missed United's best chance in the 79th minute.