Harriers get back on track with Tamworth win

First half goals for Lee Vaughan and Steve Guinan helped to get Steve Burr's side back on track after their mid-week FA Cup loss to Corby.

The strikes were enough to make sure Harriers' grabbed their first ever win over the Lambs in the Conference Premier.

Burr made five changes to the team which crashed out of the FA Cup at the hands of Corby in mid-week.

Keeper Tony Breeden debuted after joining in mid-week, while Scott Phelan, Marc Williams, Mickey Demetriou and Callum Gittings were drafted into the side.

Former Reds man Francino Francis nearly gave the hosts the lead early on when saw his near post header graze the bar.

Harriers gave their shattered confidence a much-needed boost when they took the lead in the seventh minute.

Marc Williams was wrestled to ground by Francis as the duo battled for a Guinan cross and Vaughan slammed the resulting penalty into the top left corner.

Guinan then fired Harriers 2-0 up 10 minutes later, firing home with left-footed effort on the turn.

The away team replied with a spell of possession but did little to test the back four or Breeden, who was making the step up from the Southern League Premier.

The shot-stopper was called into action when he saved a shot from ex-Harrier Iyseden Christie.

Danny Thomas shot into the side netting in a rare attempt on goal by the home side.

Tamworth manager Marcus Law rang the changes at the start of the second half, taking off anonymous duo Keiron St Aimie and Kyle Patterson for Nabil Shariff and Richard Tait respectively.

As the game livened up Harriers midfielder Scott Phelan and Tamworth's Paul Green both picked up bookings.

The away side then escaped sanction when he handled the ball outside of the penalty area.

However, wirth Harriers dropping back, Tamworth started to pile the pressure on the home side without creating any clear cut chances.

The hosts were still searching for a third goal to kill off the game, with Dave Bird shooting off target from distance and Gittings hooking wide in athletic fashion from a Guinan cross.

Centre back Michael Briscoe then flung himself at Cain's right wing cross but his header only just flew over Harriers' goal.

Substitute Liam McDonald then signalled the away side's intent when he flashed a shot across the face of the box.

That was the best chance the Lambs could muster and Welsh striker Marc Williams then came close to making sure Harriers hold onto all three points. He raced onto Dave Bird's probing pass and fired in a shot which Francis cleared off the line.

Harriers; Breeden; Vaughan; Phelan (Vincent, 89); Hankin (Wright, 80); Guinan; Williams; Sharpe; Briscoe; Gittings; Demetriou; Bird.

Unused substitutes: Jones; Matt; Lyness.

Tamworth: Hedge; Hamerghan; Francis; Smith (McDonald, 67); Cain; St Aimie (Shariff, 46); Thomas; Patterson (Tait, 46); Green; Christie; Kanyuka.

Unused substitutes: Tait; Mills; Barrow; Shariff.

Referee: Ross Joyce (North Yorkshire). Attendance: 1,797 (198)