KIDDERMINSTER Harriers returned from Devon pointless after a goal at the end of the first-half settled this hard-fought Blue Square Premier clash at Plainmoor.

Torquay captain Mark Ellis's strike denied the visitors a point they deserved for their tenacity against the division's most potent attack.

Manager Mark Yates dropped new signings Matthew Bailey and Darryl Knights to the bench, while the injured Russ Penn was replaced by Dean Bennett.

In a bid to blunt the league's top scorers, the manager deployed Iyseden Christie as a lone striker up front and a five-man midfield to support him.

This saw Gavin Hurren and Brian Smikle handed rare starts, while on-loan Shewsbury Town man Luke Jones kept his place in the side alongside captain Mark Creighton.

Jeff Kenna made his mark on Gulls winger Chris Zebroski early on. The speedy left winger had already raced past him and delivered a decent cross that Creighton cleared.

The second time the Torquay wideman tried to speed past him, Kenna stopped him in his tracks with a crunching tackle.

Discplined Harriers, led by centrebacks Creighton and Jones, nullified Torquay's attacks.

The hosts barely threatened and Roscoe D'Sane saw his 22nd minute shot blocked by Creighton.

Dean Bennett dragged his shot across the face of goal late in the half, while Hurren saw a 20-yard effort fly over the bar.

But the hosts edged ahead in the third minute of stoppage-time when Harriers failed to clear D'Sane's cross-shot from a short corner and Ellis pounced to score.

Harriers were the better side in the second-half but Christie missed two golden chances.

The striker saw his shot blocked by keeper Michael Poke's legs in the 52nd minute after good work by Smikle and Simon Russell.

In the 63rd minute substitute Matthew Barnes-Homer set up Christie in the box but the striker shot over the bar.

Harriers' keeper Chris MacKenzie then made a low diving save to deny Lee Phillips.

Torquay's 14-goal Tim Sills was taken off injured late on after he ran into the large frame of Creighton.

Harriers: MacKenzie 6, Kenna 6, Jones 7, Creighton 7, Jeannin 6, Smikle 6 (Knights, 69), Russell 6 (Barnes-Homer, 56, 6), Ferrell 6, Hurren 6 (Bailey, 80), Bennett 6, Christie 5.

Referee: S A Hooper.

Attendance: 3,012.