A goal in each half by trialist Timmy Abraham handed Cheltenham Town a narrow victory in their fourth friendly of the summer.
Michael Duff named an experimental side in front of almost 1,000 supporters at the Aggborough Stadium, watching from the sidelines with Pete Haynes taking charge from the bench.
The Under-18s boss oversaw a side packed with Academy players who turned a host of fine individual performances to pick up some useful experience against their full-time opponents.
There were some familiar names in Harriers' red with Omari Sterling, Keith Lowe, Amari Morgan-Smith and Ashley Hemmings among the Kidderminster ranks, expertly marshalled by Russ Penn, one third of Mark Yate's midfield triamviruate which reached the play-off final at Wembley in 2012.
The National League North side provided a stern test for Cheltenham's mixture of young players and trialists on a balmy night, producing a string of chances to win the game themselves.
"I thought the young players were excellent," Duff said afterwards.
"I think there were up to nine Under-18s on the pitch at any one time. They're full-time and have some really good players with Football League experience.
"We went a goal down but we showed some resilience and a bit of character to get back into it, so it was good for them."
Harriers made the initial breakthrough midway through the first half when Jack Toiley's deflected effort sailed past Owen Evans but Duff's side were soon level, Abraham weighing in with his first goal on his third appearance of the summer.
The striker was joined for a second time by Vince Harper and 25-year-old defender Isaac Currie, both given the chance to show what they could do at left back and central midfield respectively.
Penn made eight changes to his outfield team at the interval and they went on to cause the young defence plenty of problems, but they stood firm to restrict their opponents to their lone first half goal.
Morgan-Smith saw a couple of headers drop wide after the break while Sam Austin wasted two chances of his own, as did Hemmings who had looked very lively after coming on, and the home side were made to pay in the final minute of normal time.
The young Robins were handed the late chance to nick the win when Harper was floored in the box, earning a late penalty to settle the match. Abraham made no mistake with the spot kick, thumping it down the middle to clinch the late win.
Coventry City next, back at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium this Saturday (3pm kick-off).
KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS FIRST HALF: Simpson; Bastable, Player H, Penny, Richards; Moyo (Lissimore 16), Sterling, Martin; White, Freemantle, Toiley.
KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS SECOND HALF: Simpson (Player A 65); Player I, Dutton, Lissimore, Lowe, Player C, Austin, Carrington, Morgan-Smith, Hemmings.
CHELTENHAM TOWN (3-5-2): Evans; Horton (Woodall 61), Armitage, Taylor; Hunt (Ramsey 84), Currie (Holland 73), Miles (Spencer 84), Aldridge, Harper; Abraham, Guinan (Denness-Barrett 77).
REFEREE: T Reeves
ATTENDANCE: 979