HARRIERS hotshots James Constable and Iyseden Christie were hailed by manager Mark Yates after the Boxing Day derby win at Stafford Rangers.

But the Kidderminster boss has issued a cautionary note about his chances of keeping the 15-goal partnership together beyond Saturday's trip to Southport.

Constable's deadly double at Marston Road took his Harriers tally to five goals in four games - with 10-goal Christie setting up both strikes.

"It's just unfortunate that they're both loan players at the moment and were trying to sort something out with at least one of them," said Yates.

"They work well together, they've got a good understanding and when they play closer to each other like they did at times against Stafford, they're a real physical threat.

"They've got a bit about them, they both know the game and they can score goals.

"They gel well and have both got a bit of everything, they're strong, quite quick and decent in the air and for some reason they complement each other."

Yates admitted that the forwards' futures were in the hands of parent clubs Walsall and Rochdale, who are battling at opposite ends of League Two.

"James is here until nearly the end of January and Iyseden is here until Saturday and after that he'll go back," he said.

"We're trying to sort something out with Iyseden and Rochdale but it's going to take a little bit of time - hopefully the sooner the better.

"We've made a good impression on James and I want us to do something further, I just hope Walsall keep winning and they don't need him.

"That's me being selfish, but I also understand that if he has a chance to go back and play in the Football League, he'll want that."

The Constable-Christie combination was crucial as Harriers sank Phil Robinson's part-timers in the Staffordshire-Worcestershire derby.

Constable opened the scoring on 42 minutes when Craig McAughtrie crumbled under pressure from Christie, allowing keeper Scott Bevan's long punt to squeeze through to the Walsall man who fired home from eight yards.

By then Constable had already forced a full-stretch save from Danny Alcock near the left hand post and rattled the Stafford stopper's opposite upright with another low drive.

Bevan was also in fine form for Harriers, denying Guy Madjo after just two minutes when the Rangers striker wriggled free following a midfield misunderstanding between Russ Penn and Gavin Hurren.

Harriers were good value for their half-time lead, however, and backed by a 600-strong travelling army which made up a third of the crowd, they deserved to double their advantage just before the hour mark.

The second goal on 57 minutes came courtesy of another unselfish assist from Christie and another clinical finish from Constable after Mark Creighton had hooked the ball into the danger zone.

That should have been enough to see off Stafford, but Kidderminster gave their hosts hope when McAughtrie was allowed space to nod in Wayne Daniel's cross on 82 minutes.

Rangers rallied, but after a grandstand finish, including Bevan's flying save to keep out Robin Gibson's belter, Harriers held on for their third straight Conference win.

Stafford (4-4-2): Alcock, Sutton, McAughtrie, Daniel, Talbott; Gibson, Basham, Murphy, Edwards (Olaoye 65); Madjo (Barlow 65), Grayson. Subs not used: Hopkinson, Oldfield, Murray.

Harriers (4-4-2): Bevan 7, Kenna 6, Creighton 7, Whitehead 7, Harkness 7; Russell 7, Hurren 6, Penn 7, Blackwood 7; Christie 7 (White 87), CONSTABLE 8(Reynolds 90). Subs not used: S Taylor, Smikle, Davies.

Booked: Penn (62), Constable (65).

Referee: Ian Smedley (Derby) Attendance: 1,758.