Saturday, September 11, 1999.

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers' steady improvement under new manager Jan Molby continued on Saturday when they ended Scarborough's unbeaten away record with a 2-0 Nationwide Conference victory at Aggborough.

Mark Druce and Thomas Skovbjerg were the marksmen to lift Kidderminster to their third win in four games.

It followed their shock 2-0 triumph at leaders Stevenage Borough seven days earlier and nudges them into 16th spot in the table after a disappointing start to the campaign.

Former Hereford United campaigner, Druce, who broke the deadlock for Harriers in the 37th minute, said afterwards: "I can't see why we can't make a challenge for the title. We can't afford to drop too many points, but if we win most of them rather than draw then it makes a vast difference.

"If you can go to Stevenage and win 2-0 with ten men for most of the game it shows what you are capable of."

Druce missed the start of the season because of injury, but has been playing the main role in Harriers' strike force in the last couple of matches.

He said: "The lads played well in the first few games passing-wise, but maybe they didn't work quite as hard as we have in the last two games.

"We had a slow first 20 minutes and then we had a good spell and could have scored more than one really.

"It was a bit disappointing to go in just 1-0 up."

Druce was delighted with his mission in Harriers' attack and his goal against a Scarborough side managed by former Hereford boss Colin Addison.

"I'm always pleased to score. It makes a change, I haven't scored too many, so it was welcome.

"It's working quite well at the moment and we haven't conceded a goal in our last two games against sides who have been scoring quite freely.

"It's working well, steadied the ship and seems to be going well.

"The difficulty we have been having is against teams that battle.

"We have got to battle first and then come through it as we are a better team than most. I still think we can be up there with a good shout at the end of the season," he said.

Druce opened the scoring when he slid the ball past Scarborough 'keeper Andrew Woods after the opening had been created by Ian Foster.

A few minutes earlier Woods had pulled off an excellent diving save by pushing a 25 yard effort from Shaun Cunnington around the post.

Woods, however, was largely responsible for Kidderminster's second goal in the 52nd minute.

He was unlucky enough to slip while attempting to clear the ball upfield enabling Dean Bennett to create the opportunity for Skovbjerg to wrap up the points in a well earned victory.

In the final minute substitute striker Stewart Hadley should have put Kidderminster further ahead but he missed the boat when his powerful curling, angled shot flew past Woods and wide.

Harriers were without injured Steve Taylor (ankle), Rene Petersen (groin and hip) and Phil King (thigh) as well as suspended James Collins.

Kidderminster: Clarke 6, Brownrigg 7, Stamps 7, Webb 7, Pope 7, Smith 8, Bennett 7 (Hinton, 84), Skovbjerg 7 (Hadley, 78), Druce 7, Foster 7, Cunnington 6 (Barnett 60, 6). Subs (not used): Brock, Weir.

Star man: Adie Smith.

Attendance: 1,784.