HARRIERS Ladies suffered a rare defeat as they went down 3-2 at title-chasing Solihull United.
The hosts were unbeaten this season so the task in hand was a sizable one, but the Reds acquitted themselves well and struck twice through Amber Lawrence.
In challenging weather conditions, both sides had good opportunities to break the deadlock, but it was Harriers who did so, a good move seeing Nicklin on the ball in the area before being fouled to the award of a penalty. Lawrence stepped up and dispatched the kick to give her side the lead.
Looking to take their lead into the break, Harriers were hit with a double blow in the half's final moments; Solihull levelling with an incisive breakaway, before taking the lead from a corner after the wind caught the ball and deceived goalkeeper Hannah Tromans.
Harriers started the second half brightly and put pressure on Solihull, but the home side again weathered that storm and stole further ahead as a good pass and finish saw the visiting goal breached for a third time.
James Astle's girls were never out of the game, however, and before full time pulled a goal back. Again it was a penalty, awarded after a handball in the area, with Lawrence keeping her cool to beat the goalkeeper and make it 3-2.
That would be all for the Reds, though, who fell to a rare defeat against the unbeaten league leaders who are now firmly in the driving seat for the league title.
Harriers, meanwhile, have plenty to play for - more than one Cup competition remains in their reach as well as the need to keep applying pressure in the league in case United drop points during the run-in.