KIDDERMINSTER Harriers battled hard but came up short against the Blue Square Premier leaders at the Recreation Ground.

The Aggborough team have always saved their best performances for the league's top sides and made a mockery of their recent lacklustre form with a robust display.

But they could not prevent the leaders from stretching their advantage at the top to eight points, while Har-riers have now only won one game in the last 11.

Manager Mark Yates gave striker Matthew Barnes-Homer the lone role up front and fielded a five-man midfield, which allowed the visitors to soak up the pressure and hit The Shots on the break.

Barnes-Homer capped an industrious performance by giving Harriers the lead in the third minute.

Defender Anthony Charles failed to clear Mark Creighton's long ball and the 22-year-old chipped keeper Nikki Bull as he rushed out.

Harriers' lead was erased two minutes later when goalkeeper Chris MacKenzie could only get a palm to Charles' header and Danny Hylton stabbed the rebound home.

Unlike in recent weeks the Aggbor-ough side did not let their heads drop and continued to pose a threat on the counter-attack as Aldershot's advan-ces broke on the visitors' blanket defence.

MacKenzie got a hand to Ben Harding's goal-bound header in the 15th minute, while Rob Elvins directed one effort wide.

Michael McGrath had two decent chances on either side of half-time to give Harriers the lead. Right winger Brian Smikle sped past Anthony Straker and found Barnes-Homer, who held off the defence and found the young midfielder on the edge of the box but he fired straight at Bull.

At the start of the second period McGrath managed to reach Dean Bennett's deflected cross from the right but volleyed over the bar.

Aldershot manager Gary Waddock made three changes at the start of the half, including handing 31-year-old much travelled striker Junior Men-des his debut.

The hosts edged ahead in the 66th minute when the visitors' failed to clear the ball and Joel Grant slipped it to Harding on the edge of the box, who fired an accurate shot past MacKenzie.

Yates brought on Iyseden Christie as Harriers switched to a 4-4-2 formation as they pushed for a leveller and he went close in injury-time.