WHETHER they took the M6 or M42 to head home, the `M' stood for misery for Town and their fans last night.

While Doncaster were celebrating promotion, Town manager Peter Jackson, his players and 1,681 travelling faithful were left to reflect on a sadly missed opportunity at Aggborough.

Two shockingly conceded goals cost them dearly and, even though they were playing against 10 men for 56 minutes following Ian Foster's dismissal, it was only in the frenetic closing stages that Town unveiled their third-place credentials.

That was after Abdou Sall had headed them back into the contest with a ripper of an own goal seven minutes from time, halving the deficit from Wayne Hastwell's 29th-minute header and a 53rd-minute own goal from unfortunate Town left-back Anthony Lloyd.

Suddenly it was all hell let loose.

Town - who struggled throughout to pass and move with any fluency - found the sort of urgency which had deserted them from the moment they got stuck in traffic en route to the ground.

Kidderminster were stunned and Andy Holdsworth was fractions away from an equaliser after Andy Booth nodded back a Danny Schofield cross.

Roared on by their vocal bank behind the goal, Town went close again just 30 seconds later when Pawel Abbott's crunching volley from 30 yards left goalkeeper John Danby staring into space as it flashed past his left-hand post.

At that stage it looked like Town would rescue a point they scarcely deserved, but with the clock ticking down, Danby held his nerve and a firm header from David Mirfin and the home side had secured a season-saving win.

Just why it took Town so long to get going is hard to fathom.

On paper and form, they should have been a measure too strong for their hosts and they did produce glimpses of real promise when the score and numbers were level in the opening quarter of an hour.

Lloyd and Tony Carss, in particular, enjoyed some success down the left, but the pace of Simon Brown was soon evident and, as he cut inside on 19 minutes, Paul Rachubka had to swoop smartly to keep out a curling drive.

Rachubka did even better after 28, leaping backwards with arms outstretched to tip an outstanding Brown chip onto and over the bar.

Town's relief was shortlived.

After the resulting corner had been cleared for another, Andy Booth's marking antennae let him down and Hastwell was left free at the back post to head Kidderminster in front.

It was the perfect tonic for Jan Molby's side, but Ian Foster put a question mark over their chances only five minutes later when he was red carded by referee Michael Ryan for aiming a punch at Efe Sodje.

Molby had no complaints about the decision which left his Midlands team facing a testing hour or so.

But Booth's header off the top of their bar on 44 minutes was as close as they went to losing their lead before half-time.

Jackson sent on Blackburn loanee Gary Harkins for the second half in midfield, pushing Danny Schofield up alongside the disappointing front two, and Town should have been level within five minutes of the re-start.

Twisting and turning on the edge of the box, Abbott somehow threaded the ball through to Schofield, who had only Danby to beat, but his well thought-out lob from 15 yards was agonisingly too strong and landed on top of the net.

Another good run and cross from Schofield went to waste as Sall made a clearing header, and Kidderminster were quick to make Town pay.

There seemed little danger as Brown battled for the ball some 30 yards out, but no-one tackled as he made an angled run into the box and, when he drilled the ball across, Lloyd just couldn't get out of the way as he chested it over the line.

It prompted Jackson to send on John McAliskey for the final 29 minutes - replacing migraine victim Carss - and there were half chances for Booth and Abbott before McAliskey's well-struck left-foot volley forced Danby into a flying save 12 minutes from the end.

McAliskey continued to cause Kidderminster problems and he deserves the chance of a full League debut when Scunthorpe visit on Saturday.

By then, it's to be hoped Town have put this big disappointment firmly behind them and are ready to resume normal service.

When Town suffered their only recent defeats against Darlington and Carlisle they hit back with wins - something they seriously need to do again.

HOW THEY RATED: Paul Rachubka Made two excellent saves to keep out the dangerous Brown, but could do nothing with either of the goals Rating: 4/10

Andy Holdsworth Miscued a couple of crosses and missed a late chance from close range, but his battling spirit made him Town's pick Rating: 5/10

Anthony Lloyd Attacked with promise early on. Could do nothing about avoiding the own goal from Brown's fierce cross Rating: 4/10

Steve Yates Taken off at half-time as Jackson looked towards his attacking options in the second half. Made some good tackles Rating: 4/10

Efe Sodje Smart early tackle on Brown was enjoyed by the fans. Supplied a late pass for Booth to tee up McAliskey Rating: 4/10

David Mirfin Showed maturity at the back. Almost equalised with the final header of the match when Booth nodded on a free-kick Rating: 4/10

Tony Carss Went off suffering a migraine. Supplied some decent set-pieces and raided usefully at times down the left Rating: 4/10

Jon Worthington Did his share of work but not as influential as in many matches. Often found a wall of red shirts blocking his way Rating: 4/10

Danny Schofield Some neat trickery on the ball and put in some fine crosses, but just couldn't force an opening for colleagues Rating: 4/10

Andy Booth Hit the bar with a solid header in the first half and teed up a few chances late on, but not at his dangerous best Rating: 4/10

Pawel Abbott Inches away from a spectacular late equaliser with a volley but didn't look himself. Now starts a ban Rating: 4/10

MAN OF THE MATCH: Andy Holdsworth

Not a team performance or result Town will care to remember, but young Holdsworth - despite misdirecting the odd cross - showed plenty of determination to show for the ball and to attack and he was desperately unlucky not to score from Booth's header late on.

Town had played quite well in the first spell until Booth slipped at a defensive corner and Kidderminster skipper Wayne Hastwell was allowed a free header to open the scoring. It was a boost for the home side. Town never recovered.

Subs used: Kidderminster: Williams for Christiansen 73, Jenkins for Brown 77. Town: Harkins for Yates HT, McAliskey for Carss 61.

Subs not used: Kidderminster: Clarke, Brock, McHale. Town: Senior, Edwards, Scott.

Scorers: Kidderminster: Hastwell 29, Lloyd (og) 53. Town: Sall (og) 83.

Dismisal: Kidderminster: Foster 34mins.

Bookings: Kidderminster: Burton, Yates. Town: Mirfin.

Shots on target: Kidderminster 4, Town 4.

Corners: Kidderminster 3, Town 5.

Caught offside: Kidderminster 0, Town 1.

Free-kicks awarded: Kidderminster 8, Town 14.

Attendance: 4,051 (Away: 1,681).