Harriers 1, Halifax 0

HARRIERS continued their remarkable bid to delay their relegation from the Vanarama National League as they edged out bottom four rivals Halifax at Aggborough on Tuesday night.

Ben Whitfield's sixth goal of the season ensured that the Reds moved off the bottom of the table for the first time since February 23.

With Torquay doing them a favour by defeating Altrincham, the three points means Harriers can still somehow escape the drop.

With three games of the campaign, left are eight points adrift of safety.

Harriers made one change from the side which won at Welling on Saturday. With Max O'Leary set to be recalled by parent club Bristol City after an injury to Frank Fielding, he was dropped to the bench and Dean Snedker was handed a rare start.

With both teams in desperate need of a win, both teams tried to play some attractive football but lacked cutting edge.

The visitors probably had the best of the first 20 minutes and James Bolton steered a header well wide from a Scott McManus corner.

On-loan Aston Villa man Lewis Kinsella produced a timely block to keep put Jake Hibbs' effort after a flowing Halifax move.

Snedker was called into action in the 16th minute when when he clawed out a Hamza Bencherif header from a McManus corner.

Harriers' keeper then dived to his right to keep out a Hibbs free-kick, which was destined for the bottom left corner.

But the home side, who at times struggled to find any cutting edge in the final third, produced a great chance to score in the 25th minute.

Gurjit Singh surged forward and slipped the ball to Whitfield but he blasted his effort high and wide.

Former Kiddy loan man Richard Peniket escaped his marker on the half hour but curled a low effort wide.

Whitfield though broke the deadlock on the 48th minute.

The on-loan Bournemouth and was picked out by Kinsella's raking cross pitch pass and he drove in from the left before slotting home an accurate effort past keeper Sam Johnson.

There was also a special moment for Harriers academy prospect Dan Sweeney, who made his first senior appearance when he replaced Singh.

The youngster made an immediate impact when he drove into Halifax's area and was brought down by Bencherif.

But Elton Ngwatala's weak attempt to place the spot-kick in the bottom right corner was saved by Johnson.

Halifax struggled to find their rhythm despite being let off the hook.

In contrast, Sweeney continued to grasp his chance to shine and in the 83rd minute he won the ball in midfield, sped forward and tested Johnson with a firm effort.

Substitute Patrick replaced a tiring Whitfield and nearly made it 2-0 in the 84th minute when he sped through a gap in Halifax's defence but fired wide.

The away side pushed for a late leveller in the five minutes of time added on as the tension increased at Aggborough.

Harriers: Snedker, Langmead, Singh (Sweeney, 58), Kinsella, Williams, Fane, Francis-Angol, Lowe, Whitfield (Patrick, 84), McQuilkin, Ngwatala (Hodgkiss, 78).

Subs not used: O'Leary, Tunnicliffe.

Halifax: Johnson, Bolton, McManus, James, Bencherif, Burrow, Peniket (Macadonald, 63), Roberts, Hibbs (McDonald, 64), Fairhurst (Hughes, 60), Wroe.

Subs not used: Porter, Fazlic.

Referee: Derek Eaton (Gloucs) Attendance: 1340 (119)