A HECTIC few days at the J.Davidson Stadium had seen manager Neil Young resign on the eve of the Bank Holiday Monday trip to Kidderminster.

A caretaking team comprising players Alan Woodall, Jake Moult and Shaun Densmore had taken over and they made three changes to the starting XI as Alty sought to end a run of three successive defeats.

Sam Heathcote, Simon Richman and Damian Reeves were all restored to the side.

Alty started well against a Harriers team which, like them, had also been relegated last season.

But the hosts gradually got the upper hand with Arthur Gnahoua prompting many of their better moments.

Alty were indebted to goalkeeper Andrew Dawber for a couple of saves, while at the other end they posed little threat to the Kidderminster goal.

It looked as if Alty would get to the break on level terms only for them to concede a minute before the interval.

The goal was a messy affair as a loose ball in the Alty box fell fortuitously to Gnahoua and he hit a rising shot past Dawber from close range.

In the second half Kidderminster threatened Alty down the flanks, with visiting left-back Sumner facing particular pressure.

Again, the Robins found it hard to mount threatening attacks but they came within inches of a spectacular equaliser on 62 minutes.

James Lawrie, from inside his own half, executed a superb lob which had keeper Sam Hornby backtracking despairingly towards his goal, but the ball dropped a matter of inches the wrong side of the bar on to the roof of the net.

Despite ending the game with four forwards on the pitch, Altrincham were unable to secure a draw.

It was a second defeat in three days after they lost 4-2 at home to Curzon Ashton on Saturday – after which Young left his post as boss.

The afternoon started well for a Robins' side featuring three debutants in the starting XI.

It was one of them, experienced ex-Football League striker, Emile Sinclair, who put them ahead with a close-range finish after just 35 seconds.

But then it all went wrong as their defence fell apart three times in seven minutes.

Matty Flynn, who was a thorn in Alty's left-hand side, got behind Adam Sumner and won a corner in the 17th minute.

This was headed back across the box, unchallenged, by a Curzon player from near the back post and former Alty striker Ryan Brooke converted the chance from close range.

Three minutes later, Altrincham were carved open again on their left.

This time Brooke himself got clear and, though isolated defender Sam Patterson did well to half-clear, Ennis netted from 18 yards.

More bad defending saw Curzon score their third goal in the 24th minute.

Ennis advanced unhindered up the visitors' inside-left channel and his low cross found the unmarked Rowney who scored from 12 yards with a low shot past Dawber.

With Alty trailing 3-1 at the break, Curzon scored again in the 62nd minute as teenage centre-back Joe Moran tripped an opponent and Ennis beat Dawber comprehensively from the spot.

Reeves, a belated Altrincham substitute, went close with a volley before scoring a fine consolation goal five minutes from time.

He drifted across the front of the box before beating goalkeeper Burton from 20 yards.

The Robins remain just outside the relegation places, in 19th position, ahead of Saturday's home game against Stockport County.