MARK Yates got his first taste of how cruel life as a football manager can be when he saw his resolute Kidderminster Harriers side eliminated from the FA Trophy by an injury-time goal at home to Grays Athletic.

Despite not creating many chances, Harriers defended manfully with skipper Mark Jackson putting in a commanding performance at centre-half and they deserved at least a replay.

However, as the home fans were starting to plan a Tuesday night trip to Essex, the impressive Aaron McLean popped up at the front post to loop a header into the far corner past the stranded John Danby.

Prior to the goal, Yates may well have been thinking that luck was on his side as McLean contrived to smash a shot against the bar from inside the six-yard box with the goal at his mercy.

The consolation, albeit a scant one, Yates can take from this game is that he can now plough his full attention into turning Harriers' Nationwide Conference season around without the distraction of FA Trophy matches -- starting with the visit of Scarborough on Saturday.

Harriers almost went behind on 13 minutes when McLean placed a header past Danby but the ever-alert Jackson got back in time to hack the ball off the line and to safety.

Chances remained few and far between for the hosts but, on the half-hour mark, good work down the left flank by Michael Blackwood set up Harriers' top scorer Iyseden Christie, whose effort was headed behind for the first corner of the game.

Yates' half-time team-talk seemed to galvanise his side and they started the second-half brightly.

However, as the game wore on, Grays gradually worked their way back into the game and even dominated the final 20 minutes.

This pressure eventually took its toll on the Harriers and McLean grabbed the decisive goal in the dying seconds for the Trophy holders.

Yates said: "Grays are a good side but I thought we had the better chances -- especially in the second-half. Our defence was excellent for 92 minutes but unfortunately we were caught out with a cruel blow in injury-time.

"They (Grays) passed the ball around well at times and their players all accepted their responsibilities and expressed themselves well. That is what I want my players to do more of and is something we are working on.

"We wanted to have a bit of a cup run, but now we are out we can concentrate on getting our league campaign on track.

"I have got the nucleus of a good squad here and it just needs a bit of fine tuning."

HARRIERS: Danby; Graves, Jackson, Mullins, Hatswell; Pugh (Thompson 84), Fleming, Penn, Blackwood (Russell 76); Sheldon, Christie. Subs not used: Flynn, Wilson, Lewis.

ATTENDANCE: 1,436.