DONCASTER 0 HARRIERS 1

COLIN Larkin's brief appearance made a great impact as Harriers successfully fended off Doncaster's hopes of an LDV Vans Trophy first round shock.

Jan Molby's double substitution on the hour which saw Harriers revert to a 4-3-3 formation proved crucial.

The visitors really stretched their former Conference opponents and Larkin fired the winner 12 minutes later.

But the brave strike left the on-loan Wolverhampton Wanderers man crumpled in a heap on the floor with an injured knee after colliding with keeper Barry Richardson.

The Doncaster man escaped without any ticking off and Molby's protests at the referee's lack of action led to him spending the rest of the game watching from the main stand.

But Harriers lasted the contest comfortably and really should have scored more goals in an enterprising second half.

There were sweet memories of Kidderminster's last visit to Belle Vue when two goals in the last four minutes gave them a dramatic 2-1 success in the Conference-winning season.

And, similar to that game more than a year ago, their first-half display was nothing to write home about on Tuesday night.

Midfielder Danny Williams gave a rare glimpse of his thunderbolt shot on 27 minutes, hit so hard from 25 yards that Richardson barely had time to react and parry the ball.

But Doncaster should have been ahead at the interval though they rarely breached a solid Harriers rear-guard.

Winger Andy Watson took advantage of an Ian Joy slip to set up Gareth Owen for a peach of a chance from 12 yards. But the former Wrexham campaigner wastefully side-footed his effort over the bar on 31 minutes.

Harriers' keeper Eric Nixon blocked a far-post header from Neil Campbell, moments before the visitors were given a half-time roasting by the management.

After Owen had curled a fine free-kick onto the crossbar early in the second half, the game belonged to Harriers.

The fast-breaking Ian Foster set up Sam Shilton for a great chance to break the deadlock on 57 minutes but Richardson saved well from the on-rushing winger.

And the new 4-3-3 system, with Foster, Larkin and Drewe Broughton up-front, quickly made the home side look uncomfortable.

Richardson saved a long-range effort from Dean Bennett but was left in no-man's land with Harriers' winner.

Broughton chipped the ball through for the pacy Larkin and the striker lifted the ball elegantly over the advancing keeper who caught him heavily in the process.

Molby was angered by the challenge but said he had not been sent off. Instead, he was directed to the stands as he would not sit down.

Larkin limped off on 78 minutes and Stewart Hadley was his replacement, testing Richardson with a crisp low drive three minutes from time.

Meanwhile, fellow substitute Mark Blake dived to head over the bar from close range as Harriers showed the difference between Division Three and Conference.

Against full-time and well-paid opposition, this result was really quite impressive and stretched the unbeaten run to three games with none conceded in that time.

DONCASTER: Richardson; Hawkins, Squires, Ryan, Barrick; Watson (Tierney 75), Owen, Kelly (Barnes 81), Carden; Campbell, Whitman (Jackson 66). Subs not used: Warrington, Penney.

HARRIERS: Nixon 7; Clarkson 7, Shail 7, HINTON 8, Joy 6; Bird 6 (Larkin 60, Hadley 78), Williams 7, Bennett 7, Shilton 6 (Blake 60, 6); Broughton 7, Foster 7. Subs not used: Murphy, Davies.

ATTENDANCE: 1,750.

SHOTS ON: Doncaster 5 Harriers 8.

SHOTS OFF: Doncaster 7 Harriers 5.

CORNERS: Doncaster 6 Harriers 3.

YELLOW CARDS: Doncaster 1 (Owen), Harriers 1 (Joy).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN, CRAIG HINTON:

Won just about everything at the back alongside a solid Mark Shail. Good to see the key defender returning to something near his best after an injury-plagued start to the season.