Harriers slay Stags to keep on play-off march

With the game at Field Mills kicking off at noon because of England's Euro qualifier in Wales, Steve Burr's men threw down the gauntlet to the likes of Fleetwood, Darlington and Grimsby, who were still chasing a spot in the end of season promotion party.

Instead, for a short period at least, Harriers increased their lead over sixth-placed Fleetwood to five points and tightened their grip on the final play-off spot.

Goals for Chris McPhee and Keith Briggs made sure of the points and but for the heroics of Stags keeper David Grof they would have won the game comfortably.

In the end, Adam Murray's late goal ensured a tense end to the match but they held onto make sure of all three points.

Wideman Matty Blair signalled Harriers' attacking intent inside the second minute, cutting in from the left and firing in a low shot which Grof saved at his near post.

Striker Sean Canham, whose loan deal from Hereford had been extended until end of the season, then saw a 30-yard shot comfortably taken by Grof after a driving run from central midfield by Tom Shaw.

Harriers' opponents, who booked their place in the FA Trophy final at Wembley after seeing off Luton over two legs, looked nervous and Blair almost took full advantage. The winger drove through non-existant marking and saw a low shot blocked by the keeper's legs and then from the resulting corner, Blair's close range header was punched away by Grof.

Mansfied's shot-stopper denied the visitors again in the 13th minute. Keith Briggs started a well-worked move when he swept the ball to the left wing. Canham cleverly nodded the ball into the path of the late arriving Shaw on the edge of the box but Grof made a fine reaction save.

But he was beaten in the 15th minute. Nick Wright's incisive pass allowed McPhee to race clear and despite stumbling under pressure from Mansfield's defence, he did well to knock it past Grof into the back of the net.

Mansfield, awakened from their slumber by the goal, threatened to reply almost immediately. Keeper Danny Lewis was equal to Paul Stonehouse's firm effort from distance, while centre back Michael Briscoe swept the danger away from Paul Connor as he was about to pull the trigger with a last-ditch tackle.

With Mansfield seeing more the game, the match developed into a more balanced affair, although with Harriers holding a one-goal advantage.

Wright flashed a long-range effort wide, while Stags midfielder Tyrone Thompson slid a low effort from the edge of the box off target.

Wright could have doubled Harriers' lead in the 38th minute after a typically flowing move by the away side. McPhee's slide-rule pass released Blair down the right and he delivered a pin-point cross which the forward headed over the bar at the far post.

Striker Niall O'Rafferty, who had been booked earlier in the game for a strong challenge on Shaw, was Mansfield's biggest threat and it took a last ditch challenge by Shaw to deny him in the box in the 42nd minute. The Harriers man had to be replaced by Niall Gittings after sustaining an injury puttimg his body on the line for the visitors.

The hosts turned it up a gear in the second half, with Louis Briscoe firing a shot across the face of goal after good work by Adam Smith on the left wing. Danny Lewis then parried a Murray header.

Connor then signalled Mansfield's newfound goal threat when he controlled Murray's pass and flashed a low shot wide from the edge of the box.

There was another scared when a flowing counter-attack involving Murray and Connor unleashed Smith, who drove to the edge of Harriers' box with menace and saw a shot deflected wide.

Canham squandered a good chance from a pacey Lee Vaughan cross, heading a tough chance just wide at the far post.

Harriers doubled their lead in the 63rd minute, when captain Keith Briggs fired in a unstoppable rising shot into the top corner.

However, the home fans were livid as they felt Mark Albrighton had fouled O'Rafferty at the start of the move which lead to the goal, although the defender's challenge was tough but fair.

With the game still frenetic, Burr decided to take off Wright and bring on Lee Morris to give Harriers someone capable of holding up the ball.

However, Murray half Harriers' lead in the 79th minute to ensure a tense end to the game.

But the Aggborough outfit held onto avenge a 3-1 loss at home in August.

Harriers: Lewis; Vaughan; Albrighton; Briscoe; Williams; Wright (Morris, 73); Briggs; Shaw (Gittings, 43); Blair; McPhee; Canham.

Unused substitutes: Stevens; Matt; Byrne.

Mansfield: Grof; Silk; Sandwith; Briscoe; Thompson; Smith (Istead, 84); Naylor; Stonehouse; Connor; O'Rafferty (Nix, 67); Murray.

Unused substitutes: Marriott; Foster; Preece.

Referee: Steve Martin. Attendance: 2,079 (350)