THE best performance of 2001 gave Kidderminster Harriers their biggest victory in Division Three and perhaps a glimpse of what lies ahead.

Harriers at last showed what they are capable of - slick passing football rewarded with three fine goals.

Considering some of the bitterly disappointing displays this year, the manner of the victory over mid-table Plymouth came as something of a surprise.

But for boss Jan Molby, it was an indication that he does have the quality at his disposal.

Interestingly, seven of Monday's starting team were in the Conference-winning squad - and this was very much more like last season.

Harriers scored three goals at home for the second time in a row but it was far more convincing than the success over Shrewsbury.

Plymouth looked poor but the freedom and confidence displayed by a previously struggling squad was incredibly refreshing.

Molby went for yet another combination up-front in Stewart Hadley and Andy Ducros - and how it paid off.

The pair had been more used to playing together in the reserves in recent weeks but they proved crucial in gaining only Harriers' fourth win of 2001.

Hadley grabbed his ninth goal of a stop-start campaign on five minutes, chasing Tim Clarke's gigantic clearance and bravely putting his head in before keeper Jon Sheffield's fist.

The ball looped over Sheffield and Paul Wotton's desperate attempt to hack the ball off the line only sent it into the roof of the net.

Hadley had given Harriers the perfect start they have lacked and he almost made it two in the 15th minute, flicking Neil MacKenzie's cross goalwards only for Sheffield to save at the second attempt.

Plymouth's Wotton had a goal disallowed for offside as their height from set-pieces threatened to be the undoing of Molby's men.

But a suicidal back-pass from Plymouth youngster Danny Bance allowed the home side to extend the lead on 21 minutes.

Ducros, who played mainly as a striker while at Coventry City, intercepted the ball and after drawing Sheffield, unselfishly squared for Neil MacKenzie to tap home.

Impressive Harriers set about adding to their total and the lively Daire Doyle, on the left side of midfield, was off-target with the first of a host of long-range efforts.

When Plymouth attacked, French duo Jean-Phillipe Javery and David Friio both posted shots with Clarke only pushed into action by the latter.

And Harriers' favourite Thomas Skovbjerg capped a brilliant first half by scoring his first goal in the Football League two minutes before half-time.

Ducros' pass across the area was helped on by Hadley for the Danish winger to blast home expertly from just inside the 18-yard box.

To Harriers' credit, they were not happy just to hold onto their lead and it could have been worse for the visitors from Devon.

Sub Andy Corbett turned swiftly and forced Sheffield into a good one-handed save on 67 minutes.

Then he saved well again from Hadley who struck the post 15 minutes from time after seizing onto Ben Davies' deep left-wing corner.

Harriers fans saw the future for the club when a glorious crossfield pass from Davies sent Corbett away only for Sheffield to come to Plymouth's rescue again.

It was a perfect boost going into Saturday's game at old rivals Cheltenham Town and maybe the Aggborough men really can end their first Division Three campaign on a high.

SHOTS ON TARGET

Harriers 8 Plymouth 3

CORNERS

Harriers 4 Plymouth 3

BOOKINGS

Harriers 0

Plymouth 3 (Javery, Evers, Guinan)

ATTENDANCE: 3,321

LINE-UPS

HARRIERS (4-4-2): Clarke 6; Medou-Otye 7, Smith 7, Hinton 7, Stamps 7; Skovbjerg 7, MacKenzie 7, Bennett 7, Doyle 7; Hadley 8, DUCROS 8. Subs: Brock, Webb, Davies (Doyle 74) 6, Durnin (Ducros 74) 6, Corbett (Skovbjerg 55) 7.

PLYMOUTH (4-4-2): Sheffield 7; Bance 5, Wotton 6, Taylor 5, Elliott 6; Phillips 6, Evers 6, Friio 6, Javery 5; Evans 5, McCarthy 5. Subs: Larrieu, Guinan (McCarthy 65) 6, O'Sullivan (Javery 46) 6, Beswetherick (Bance 50) 6, Adams.

SHUTTLE STAR MAN

ANDY DUCROS

A rare first-team striking role for Ducros and he was superb alongside the impressive Stewart Hadley. A role in two goals and lively display suggest he could play a big part in the final games.