PHIL Brown kept up his 100% record as Harriers Manager by overseeing a 1-0 win at Dagenham & Redbridge as the team’s drive towards survival continued.

The success followed victories over Aldershot Town and Hartlepool United to keep Harriers off the foot of the table and to move the edge of the relegation zone more clearly into sight.

After a tireless couple of performances for the side following his arrival on loan from Barrow earlier this month striker Sam Bellis was forced to withdraw from the squad at the Chigwell Community Stadium after sustaining an injury in training earlier this week.

Brown drafted Amari Morgan-Smith back into the starting line-up alongside Gold Omotayo on what was an otherwise unchanged eleven, though new signing Aaron Harper-Bailey was in the 16 after putting pen to paper on a loan switch from Championship outfit West Bromwich Albion.

Not too dissimilarly to the previous outing at Hartlepool, Harriers made all the running in the opening stages, but found themselves under the cosh near the end of a goalless first half.

After Alex Penny was a little wasteful in side-footing wide at a corner on three minutes, Jack Lambert’s rising effort after a mistake from goalkeeper Elliot Justham was deflected over the target.

From there, Penny and Reiss McNally took charge for Harriers and ensured the hosts were kept at bay with a series of impressive blocks, Effiong denied as simple 17th minute finish from McNally before, 20 minutes later only Penny’s last-ditch intervention ensured Shiloh Remy’s close range effort found only the side netting.

Harriers had something of a let off less than a minute after the restart when Effiong beat the offside trap to charge down on goal – Dibble stood up tall against him and did enough to ensure the Dagenham man fired off target.

It proved a pivotal moment as Harriers took the lead on 51 minutes, Caleb Richards of all people laid off inside the area and firing past Justham.

The hosts might have been level just a few minutes later but Josh Rees wastefully blazed over from ten yards, Ling then acring a finish just up and over the target as opportunities continued to go the home side’s way.

Those chances being spurned almost seem to drain the attacking enthusiasm out of the home side as Harriers continued to repel every attack in convincing fashion.

During more than seven minutes of added time and with goalkeeper Justham up supporting the attack, Dibble’s target came through unscathed – and at the expense of precious few chances.

Up next for Harriers is the crunch Aggborough clash against relegation foes Oxford City next Saturday, 3 February (3pm), for which the club have reduced all U16s tickets to £1.