Grimsby 0, Harriers 2

GOALS early in each half saw depleted Harriers record a third away win of the season at high-flying Grimsby Town in the Vanarama Conference.

Kidderminster ended another testing week on a high with another spirited display.

Marvin Johnson had handed them the perfect start with a second minute strike, while Jack Byrne doubled their lead just after half-time.

Victory was even more impressive as Harriers could barely muster a 16 man squad after the departure of two valuable assets.

There were two changes for Harriers after Chey Dunkley and Nathan Blissett had joined Oxford United and Bristol Rovers respectively.

Jared Hodgkiss returned from his one-man ban to play at right-back.

Kidderminster's forward options were severely limited so rookie Reece Hales made his first start for the club along side Craig Reid.

Grimsby boasted an experienced squad and manager Paul Hurst had the luxury of dropping skipper Craig Disley to the bench and drafting in Scott Brown.

But it was the visitors who made the strong start and opened the scoring in the 66th second.

Harriers had survived a corner and a fine pass from Matt Robinson allowed Johnson to stride through the centre of the pitch and stroke home a left-footed effort.

Stunned by the goal, The Mariners fought back but found keeper Danny Lewis in good form.

The shot-stopper was at full-stretch to tip away Nathan Arnold's pacey free-kick.

The keeper demonstrated razor sharp reactions in the 20th minute when he got a hand to Brown's thundering effort from the edge of the box.

Five minutes later, Lewis made a double save, parrying Harry Pell's firm shot and then taking Lenell John-Lewis' header.

The away side were defending well but it needed a fine header by Jamie Grimes to clear a good cross from left-back Aswad Thomas.

Harriers though ended the first half on the front foot and had several half chances.

Craig Reid rolled a shot wide in the 38th minute after good work from Robinson.

But the Aggborough outfit doubled their lead three minutes into the second half from a Reid corner.

Midfielder Byrne made a good run to escape his marker and headed home at the near post.

Grimsby hit back but Lewis produced more heroics in the 58th minute, blocking Lenell John-Lewis' header on the line from a Scott Neilson free-kick.

While Kidderminsrer had to soak up pressure from Grimsby, they still looked dangerous going forward and Johnson smashed in an effort which keeper James McKeown blocked on the line.

Whild made his first substitution in the 70th minute, taking off the tiring Hales after an industrious display and bringing on Ahmed Obeng.

Hurst had made one change near the start of the second half when be brought on John Paul Pitman in the 74th minute.

But he then threw on Disley and striker Ross Hannah in a bid to find a way through solid Kidderminster.

Disley nearly  made an immediate impact when he rose to meet Carl Magnay's cross only for Hodgkiss to clear it off the line at the far post.

In the 87th minute, Lewis smartly caught Magnay's fire time effort at the right post after good work by Pitman to win the ball in the air.

But well-drilled Kidderminster continued to defy the odds to secure all three points.

Harriers: Lewis, Hodgkiss, Byrne, Johnson, Reid (Gittings, 78), Grimes, Verma, Hales (Obeng, 70, Robinson, Nicholson, Gowling.

Subs not used: Green, Williams, Long.

Grimsby: McKeown, Thomas, Brown, Pearson, Magnay, Neilson, John-Lewis (Hannah, 74), Parslow (Parslow, 57), Arnold, Nsiala, Pell (Disley, 74) Subs not used: Mackreth, Clay.

Referee: M Coy Attendance: 3446 (70)