HARRIERS' stylish first half performance in Saturday's 3-2 win over Eastbourne Borough left manager Mark Yates purring.

The visitors dominated the first period and such was their ability to slice through Borough's defence that they could have been leading by more than two-goals at the break.

However, well-taken strikes by top scorer Justin Richards and Brian Smikle confirmed their superiority and set them on their way to victory (read report) .

"In the first half we were outstanding from front to back," commented the manager.

"I thought we passed the ball really well and got into areas where we could hurt them.

"You won't see better goals than the two we scored in the first half.

"We could have scored more in the second half but we couldn't take our chances."

The manager though also warned that his team need to keep possession better, after Eastbourne battled back in the second half.

Goals for Andy Atkin and Matt Crabb caught Harriers out, but Andy Ferrell's second ever goal, and first from open play, for Harriers ensured they earned all three points.

Yates said: "We were hanging on a bit last 20 minutes and we were a bit sloppy "Eastbourne got back into it but Andy Ferrell bagged a great strike.

"We've got to be better in possession and if we don't give the ball away then we'll defend better."

New addition Neil MacKenzie also came on as a substitute late in the first half, since joining the club on a month's loan from Notts County on Friday.

"We're bringing in better players all the time and we've added Neil MacKenzie, who's a quality passer of the ball," added the manager.

"The team is picking itself and it's easy for me at the moment, but we've got to tighten up on a couple of things."