Leader's will to win delights Harriers boss (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Leader's will to win delights Harriers boss

8:00am Thursday 21st March 2013 in News By Peter McKinney

STEVE Burr hailed Kidderminster Harriers’ will to win after they rose to the top of the Blue Square Bet Premier for the first time in 13 years.

The Aggborough look down on the rest of the league after Tuesday night’s smash and grab 2-1 victory at Newport County.

A draw had looked on the cards as spirited Harriers had managed keep a strong home side at bay on a waterlogged Rodney Parade pitch.

But they grabbed their 19th win in 22 league games when defender Chey Dunkley scored a last-gasp effort from Callum Gittings’ corner.

With Mansfield’s top-five clash at Wrexham postponed because of torrential rain, Harriers are level on points with the Stags but sit at the summit for the first time since the 1999-00 season because of superior goal-difference.

It’s not the first time Harriers have recorded vital wins at their promotion rivals, beating Forest Green Rovers and Grimsby Town in recent weeks.

The Reds have played more games than their rivals for the top spot but with seven matches left, they have demonstrated they are among the front runners.

“I think Chey took his goal well,” said Harriers’ manager.

“To keep his composure with the last kick of the game, it was like watching Geoff Hurst stick it away!

“It was a great corner and maybe most teams would have kept it there and seen the time out, but we stuck it in because we want to win every game.

“But I wouldn’t want to single anyone out, I thought all of them worked their socks off.”

Harriers’ title hopes are in their own hands, particularly because Wrexham and Mansfield play each other twice.

Newport could also overhaul the Reds if they win their games in hand but they have 11 to play in a short space of time.

Keeper Danny Lewis was man-of-the-match in Wales after he produced heroics to deny Newport and he believes Harriers must keep up their winning habit.

“All you can do is take it a game at a time,” commented Lewis.

“We are top and we want to enjoy it but we realise there’s still a long way to go and a lot of hard work to come.

“While we’re there we can dream. Someone’s got to win the league, why can’t it be us?”

The fixtures come thick and fast with two more testing matches for Harriers over the next seven days.

First, they go to struggling Southport on Saturday (1pm ko), for a match televised on Premier Sports.

Right back Lee Vaughan is a doubt after picking up a knock near the end of the County clash.

Woking then visit Aggborough on Tuesday (7.45pm ko), boasting one of the best scoring and worst defensive records in the league.

n Fans unable to make the trip to Southport can watch the game in the Aggborough Suite and Harriers Arms.