KIDDERMINSTER Harriers suffered their first ever defeat at Cambridge United as they slipped to a 2-1 Blue Square Premier loss.

The home side raced into a 2-0 lead through a Lee McEvily brace and Mark Yates’ men could not find a way back into the match despite Justin Richards’ late consolation goal.

Harriers struggled to make an impact in the early exchanges and did not have a shot on target until the 25th minute when Matthew Barnes-Homer tried his luck from the edge of the area. United keeper Danny Potter was equal to his effort though.

Two minutes later, Cambridge broke the deadlock when Mark Beesley was given too much freedom. His shot was parried by Adam Bartlett, but McEvily was on hand to fire into the empty net.

The Aggborough side responded well, but midfielder Simon Russell saw Potter block his effort with a point-blank save.

After the break, Harriers’ hopes of a fightback suffered a blow when McEvily doubled the hosts’ lead in the 61st minute. Former Sparta Rotterdam midfielder Felino Jardim got free down the right and picked out McEvily to head home.

Harriers pulled a goal back in the 89th minute through Richards from an Andy Ferrell corner, but it was too little, too late for the Worcestershire team.