Canvey Island 2, Harriers - Park Lane

KIDDERMINSTER didn't like to be beside the seaside as their losing jaunt to Canvey Island ensured it was anything but a Good Friday for Mark Yates's men.

The 172-mile trip to the Essex coast was the furthest away day of a frustrating Conference season for Harriers.

And it was an even longer way back for under-strength Kidderminster after goals in the first and last minutes of the opening half condemned them to their 17th league defeat of the season.

Harriers seemed to still be on the coach when Dwain Clarke took full advantage of a slip by Terry Fleming to smash in Jeff Minton's left wing cross with just 58 seconds on the clock.

That set the tone for a first half which the Gulls completely dominated as Mario Noto saw his cross deflected onto the bar, Jon Keeling came close on three occasions and Jason Hallett headed just wide.

Harriers lacked width, resorting to long balls for Luke Reynolds and Jon Newby to chase, with the latter caught offside countless times.

Their best moments of a poor first half display came when Canvey keeper brilliantly beat away Gavin Hurren's header and Reynolds nodded over from Michael McGrath's inviting cross.

And a Kidderminster defence missing suspended duo Daryl Burgess and Johnny Mullins was similarly sloppy when Hallett stabbed home Minton's 45th minute corner to confirm Canvey's superiority.

Jeff King's men were well worth their two-goal interval advantage with their best performance in weeks bringing some much-needed cheer following the news that the manager/owner intends to pull his money out of Park Lane.

If the seaside club collapses or retreats to where it came from down the southern football pyramid, then there's a host of Canvey players ripe for the picking.

Minton pulled the strings in the centre of midfield with his workrate and quality on the ball, while diminutive winger Keeling's speed and movement was a constant thorn in Harriers side. In contrast the visitors - who also had wingback Michael Blackwood banned - were down to the bare bones.

Yates gave a debut to young centre half Ashley Walker, but although the teenager showed willing he is still some way off making the leap from youth team to first team football.

Walker was not given much support by his more experienced colleagues and was withdrawn at the break when 18-year-old winger Tom Byrne was introduced for his senior bow.

Baby-faced Byrne also existed on the periphery of the game although he did play his part in Kidderminster's only moment of genuine quality on 72 minutes.

Russ Penn released Byrne with a smart ball down the right flank and the youngster cut inside before feeding Luke Reynolds for a classy sidefoot finish from 18-yards which left Canvey keeper Danny Potter rooted to the spot.

Reynolds, who is unable to train with Harriers on a regular basis, continues to put his team-mates to shame and is remarkably the club's joint top scorer with three goals.

The man who shares that honour, Gareth Sheldon, had a great chance to clinch a draw after stepping off the bench, but with only the keeper to beat went for a delicate chip when a driven finish was required.