HARRIERS 1 LUTON 4

RARELY has a game turned so cruelly as Kidderminster Harriers' bid to topple promotion favourites Luton Town on Tuesday.

Harriers gained a deserved 50th minute lead but three stunning blunders by keeper Stuart Brock in a five-minute spell put a completely different outlook on matters.

Luton were the best Division Three team seen at Aggborough this season but in-form Harriers had looked well set to upset them.

However, it was Molby's men who were down in the dumps by the final whistle after only their second home league defeat.

Brock, rated as one of the players of the season only a month ago, has had an unhappy time of late and faces a strong test of character if he takes the gloves for Saturday's game with Darlington as expected.

Mistakes at Exeter cost Harriers a certain victory and it was a similar situation this week though the lively visitors may have broken through of their own accord.

However, the fact remains their first real shot on target turned out to be their second goal and by that time the home side were shell-shocked.

Harriers had again played some impressive passing football though the loss of classy midfielder Richie Appleby, at the centre of many of their best moves, through injury hardly helped them.

Despite injuries creeping in, they still had enough ability to trouble Luton with on-loan Bo Henriksen a particular threat.

But as Luton boss Joe Kinnear stated afterwards: "We've gone 1-0 down to a very good side and ended up running away with it."

Harriers, knowing a win or even a draw could take them into the play-off zone for the first time this season, held the upper hand in the first half.

Luton were first to threaten when Jean-Louis Valois' free-kick sailed over but only the woodwork denied Harriers an opener on three minutes.

Scott Stamps started the move and got on the end of the ball after Drewe Broughton headed on Appleby's centre but the left-back's 12-yard drive crashed against the underside of the bar.

Luton reminded Harriers of their threat as big Steve Howard sent a hanging header towards goal from the dangerous Matt Taylor's cross only for a back-pedalling Brock to tip over.

Danish striker Henriksen began to exert more of his influence and could have put Harriers ahead by half-time.

First, on 26 minutes, he robbed Emmerson Boyce and raced away, sending a firm drive just wide from the edge of the area.

The pony-tailed forward then tore away down the same flank onto Dean Bennett's pass on the half-hour but keeper Mark Ovendale held his ground well to pull off an excellent save.

Appleby's injury on 37 minutes meant a reshuffle with Ian Foster going up-front and the versatile Bennett dropped back to midfield.

But they started the second half in perfect fashion as Danny Williams bagged his first goal for the club on 50 minutes.

Williams crashed his initial free-kick into the wall but hammered the 20-yard rebound home in off the post with his left foot.

Luton immediately hit back and only brave defending by Stamps, who was later forced off with an injury, kept them out.

But Brock's nightmare began on 53 minutes when Taylor's fierce low cross from the right went into the net via his knee.

Two minutes later, midfielder Matthew Spring nipped into space and fired a low shot into the net with a stranded Brock completely out of position.

And it was not to end there as the keeper fumbled a Kevin Nicholls' drive for Howard to tap home an easy third on 58 minutes.

Stunned Harriers had just one chance to pull a goal back but skipper Mark Blake shot wide after Foster's cross had caused problems.

Luton, meanwhile, added a fourth with Spring giving Brock no chance after substitute Ian Joy could only clear Taylor's centre to the edge of the area.

Harriers did not deserve to lose on the balance of play and must now bounce back as they did after the Exeter setback if they are to keep up with the play-off pack.

HARRIERS: Brock 4; Clarkson 6, Ayres 6, Hinton 6, Stamps 6 (Joy 65, 6); Appleby 7 (Foster 65, 6), Williams 6, Blake 7; Bennett 6, Broughton 6, HENRIKSEN 8. Subs not used: Murphy, Shilton, Ducros.

LUTON: Ovendale; Boyce, Perrett, Bayliss, Taylor; Brkovic (Hughes 88), Nicholls, Spring, Valois (Hillier 46); Howard (Forbes 88), Crowe. Subs not used: Emberson, Johnson.

ATTENDANCE: 4,147.

SHOTS ON: Harriers 4 Luton 7.

SHOTS OFF: Harriers 8 Luton 7.

CORNERS: Harriers 5 Luton 5.

YELLOW CARDS: Harriers 1 (Hinton), Luton 1 (Taylor).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Bo Henriksen. A fine display, especially considering he had spent the last two days in bed with flu. The Dane worked hard to trouble Luton with his control and vision still a class above Division Three.