The Harriers enjoyed the better of the first 20 minutes only to see Mansfield then storm into a 3-0 interval lead, two from classy Mark Stallard - his first from the spot.

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But the visitors came back out full of fight and pulled two goals back and struck a post before O'Connor, only on for two minutes as a substitute, found the net with 92 minutes on the clock to chalk up his first goal for the club and seal victory.

The afternoon had begun on a high with a minute's applause for Mansfield's Olympic double golden girl Rebecca Adlington.

• Go to the gallery to view match action photos by Chad's Angela Ward

And the only disappointing note was the number of home supporters, just over 2,300 - down on the attendance figure for the midweek win over Histon.

Home keeper Gamble had to kick into the stands after a loose early backpass from O'Hare almost put Knights, retreating from an offside position, in on goal.

The first shot at goal was a poor one from Richards who dragged a low effort that Gamble easily gathered on seven minutes.

Stags' first threatened stemmed from a scramble in which no one could get the ball under control and a Stallard shot eventually spun wide.

O'Hare did well to stretch a leg and cut out Knight's pass that would have slipped Richards in on goal as Harriers threatened again.

Stags had made a sluggish start but were ahead on 20 minutes thanks to veteran Mark Stallard.

A long, high diagonal ball from O'Hare picked out Stallard whose flick bamboozled Bowler who stuck out a leg and caught the striker.. It was in the box and the referee pointed straight to the spot, despite Bower's protests.

Stallard himself took responsibility and beat Bartlett with a delightful cheeky chip of a spot kick.

• VIDEO: To see a replay of the coolly taken penalty filmed by a Kidderminster and placed on YouTube, click here

Gamble was always safely behind a high 25 yard dipper from Bignot soon after as Hariers tried to hit back and Jeannin and Somner got in blocks on shots just outside the box as Mansfield stood firm.

Knights was a little closer with a turn and half volley from 20 yards that Gamble watched bounce just past his right hand post.

But Stallard almost doubled his tally as Lee flicked on a Gamble clearance and, spotting Bartlett off his line, Stallard lobbed the ball over keeper and open goal.

Penn finally got past Jeannin on the right to make space for a cross which Gamble elected to punch clear.

At full stretch Blackwood did well to hook a ball across to the near post where Bignot did jut enough to force Stallard to flick his header wide.

But it was 2-0 on 32 minutes. Silk hoisted a long ball to the far post where Lee headed back across and Blackwood managed to steer the ball home from seven yards.

Harriers made a change five minutes from the break as striker Barnes-Homer replaced defender Bowler and reshuffled their pack.

But things went from bad to worse for them as, two minutes into stoppage time, Stallard helped himself to a second after keeper Bartlett got himself into all kinds of trouble.

Somner lifted a cross towards the near post which took a deflection and Bartlett realised at the last minute was about to drop in. he managed to claw it onto the bar but could not prevent the predatory Stallard ramming the ball high into the net from almost on the line.

Deflated Kidderminster almost got themselves back into the game within two minutes if the restart as Stags defenders stood off to allow Penn to line up a shot that came back off the post.

Somner dived in to prevent a follow-up and the ball was cleared 30 yards to Ferrell who dipped a shot narrowly over.

Then there was a big cry from the visitors that a Penn cross had struck a Mansfield hand in the box to no avail.

Ferrell was booked for his tackle on Arnold on 52 minutes. Somner's free kick found Stallard who turned his man and, from a tight angle, produced a great blast from nowhere which Bartlett could only parry and then catch at the second attempt.

O'Hare headed just over his own bar to concede a corner which Gamble easily caught.

Then Russell dropped a curling shot wide of the far post as the visitors' spirited early second half fight back continued.

Harriers won two more corners, the second of which was cleared to Ferrell who lashed well over.

For Mansfield Stallard got in among them again in the box and only a combination of Bignot and Bartlett squeezed him out. Then Lee flicked a header just wide at the near post from Somner's cross.

But Harriers did finally break through on 69 minutes as the burly Barnes-Homer wrestled his way past Moses and slotted a low finish between Gamble's legs.

Blackwood managed to get to the left by-line two minutes later but could only find the side netting.

Then Lee should have made it 4-1 on 77 minutes after Arnold had robbed Ferrell in the box and got in a low shot that Bartlett blocked. It ran to Lee two yards from goal but it he somehow lifted it over the goal.

On 79 minutes O'Hare brought down Richards 25 yards from goal and was relieved to see only a yellow card.

Britton produced a superb free kick which brought an even better save out of Gamble. But the resulting 80th minute corner found Richards who volleyed home a cracker from 12 yards, the keeper getting a touch but unable to keep it out.

Gamble was down bravely at Barnes-Homer's feet as the visitors sensed a point was now a real possibility.

Two minutes from time Gamble was well positioned to get behind an overhead kick from Richards as Stags put the home supporters through their usual nail biting finish.

As the game entered the 90th minute Arnold's trickery saw him race through from the centre circle, sidestepping several tackles before firing over from 18 yards.

The agony was prolonged by four extra minutes but halfway through it Stags were safe as O'Connor notched his first Mansfield goal.

Arnold led another break down the right and made great progress before squaring the ball to Somner in the centre. With the defence stretched he had O'Connor outside him and fed the striker to lash in a low shot across Bartlett and in of the inside of the far post.

STAGS: Gamble; Silk, Moses, O'Hare, Jeannin; Arnold, D'Laryea, Somner, Blackwood; Stallard (O'Connor 85), Lee. Subs: Robinson, Hurren, Shaw, Herriott.

KIDDERMINSTER: Bartlett; Bowler (Barmes-Homer 40), Creighton, Jones, Bignot; Penn, Bennett, Ferrell, Russell (Britton 60); Knights (McDemott 67); Richards. Subs: Coleman, Riley.

REFEREE: Paul Curry of Ashlington.

ATTENDANCE: 2,479 (147 away).

CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Mark Stallard.