Sutton United’s journey in the FA Cup came to an end against a Kidderminster Harriers side that handed out a lesson in attacking football.

The Harriers ran out 4-1 winners on an afternoon when United’s best player was goalkeeper Tom Lovelock.

The custodian kept United in the game time and again as Harriers attack had the back four chasing shadows for much of the afternoon.

With Harriers pushing for promotion to the Football League, and United doing likewise for the Skrill Premier, this was always going to be a tall order.

United boss Paul Doswell was boosted by the return from injury of Jamie Stuart to the centre of defence, but Jamie Taylor had not recovered from an ankle injury.

Doswell also brought in Sam Rents for Mitchell Nelson in a move he thought would contain the host’s deadly wingers – unfortunately it did not work.

It had all started so well for United when Charlie Clough headed home Rents’ corner on 10 minutes.

Thoughts that the Harriers mindset was affected by their manager’s possible departure to Forest Green Rovers during the week suddenly seemed viable.

However, within five minutes the hosts were ahead thanks to strikes from Amari Morgan-Smith and Callum Gittings.

Lovelock’s excellent antics kept the score 2-1 at the break, including one fantastic double save in the closing moments.

United started brightly after the break, but they could not turn possession into a meaningful strike on goal, and when Harriers’ Joe Lolley cut inside to beat Lovelock for 3-1 it reflected the gulf in class perfectly.

Doswell made three changes bringing on Mitchell Nelson, James Folkes and Damian Scannell, but they made little difference to United as an attacking threat.

The final nail was put in the coffin on full-time when Anthony Malbon completed a fine Harriers breakaway to beat Lovelock with a powerful drive.

United return to action in the Skrill South on Tuesday at Bath City, before welcoming Havant & Waterlooville to Gander Green Lane on Saturday in the FA Trophy.