SUCIDAL defending ensured that spirited Kidderminster Harriers suffered defeat at Field Mill.

Harriers slipped to 3-0 down at half-time, before goals from Matthew Barnes-Homer and Justin Richards boosted hopes of salvaging a point.

However, a late goal by substitute Aaron O’Connor ended any hopes of a point.

Harriers had started strongly and took the game to the hosts but, for all their neat approach play, were struggling to create clear-cut chances.

They found themselves trailing after a 19th minute penalty by Mark Stallard.

The experienced hitman went down in the box when he was pushed by emergency left-back Mike Bowler and from the penalty spot he made no mistake to hand the hosts the lead.

The visitors were stunned when former Harrier Michael Blackwood took advantage of slack defending to double the hosts’ lead in the 31st minute.

An error by keeper Adam Bartlett gifted Stallard an easy finish just before half-time to leave Harriers with a mountain to climb.

Mark Yates’ men came out fighting in the second half and Russ Penn hit the post early in the period.

Mansfield hitman Jason Lee missed a good chance to score when he headed over the bar.

Barnes-Homer sparked a fight-back with a clinical finish in the 69th minute and Richards ensured a tense end to the game when he volleyed a corner into the back of the net ten minutes later.

Harriers pushed for a leveller but were caught out once again in the 92nd minute when O’Connor finished coolly after a counter-attack.

Harriers: Bartlett; Bignot; Ferrell; Creighton; Jones; Russell (Brittain, 60); Knights; (McDermott, 67) Penn; Richards Bennett; Bowler (Matthew Barnes-Homer, 40).