HOPEFULLY Harriers' heroes didn't toast their FA Trophy semi-final place with a pint on Saturday -because a half would have been more appropriate.

Kidderminster were on the verge of a potential season-ending exit when they produced arguably their biggest and best 45 minutes of the entire campaign.

Assistant boss Neil Howarth, an FA Trophy winner himself, was not exaggerating when he suggested Saturday's half-time team-talk could be pivotal in their hopes of success.

At around 3.45pm Harriers were heading out of the competition when Neal Trotman was given the freedom of the six-yard box to head Halifax in front in first-half stoppage time.

But the Aggborough men were back in the ascendancy an hour later thanks to possibly the finest period of football Harriers have played all season.

In fairness they can't be accused of being half-hearted before the break as, despite the deficit, they probably edged the pre-interval proceedings.

They had a hopeful penalty appeal turned down when James Constable and Trotman's legs became tangled although the Halifax man seemed to get a bit of the ball.

At the other end Lewis Killeen was guilty of blazing over a decent chance from close range, moments before the visitors grabbed a surprise lead.

Kidderminster must kick this habit, however, of only playing in patches because half measures will not be enough to take them to their first Trophy final since 1995.

Although it's unfair to over-criticise Harriers' match-winner, Simon Russell sums up hit and miss Harriers at the moment.

The former Hull junior was virtually anonymous before the break, but in the second-half the ginger enigma rustled up sublime skills worthy of winning any game.

It was somewhat fitting that Russell's man of the match award was announced just as Scholesy toyed with the ball to run down the clock.

But that was merely the icing on the cake for a player who half an hour earlier had heaped shame on the Shaymen with the magic everybody knows he is capable of.

Russell's quick feet and caressed cross unlocked the door for Kidderminster's equaliser on 51 minutes, although Michael Blackwood and James Constable also had an important part to play.

Blackwood it was who let fly with a cracking volley after keeping his eye on the ball as Russell's deep right wing cross dropped perfectly to his left peg at the back post.

And although Halifax keeper Craig Mawson managed to block the shot there was nothing he could do about rejuvenated Constable's follow up which was blasted into the roof of the net from six yards out.

By then Constable had already been thwarted by Mawson when his 10 yard strike was blocked by the keeper's legs after the home side burst out of the blocks at the start of the second half.

There was also the usual important intervention from Scott Bevan who kept Kidderminster's confidence flowing by shutting out Forrest following the winger's fine run and shot moments after the equaliser.

But despite a spell of Shaymen pressure just after the hour mark the second-half belonged to Harriers and had they and Russell, in particular, played with the same kind of drive and determination earlier they would surely have seen off Chris Wlder's poor travellers much sooner.

Because the minute Russell and Co cranked up the tempo, Halifax simply could not cope. It was advantage Harriers on 57 minutes thanks to another bit of fancy footwork from the club's longest serving player.

He gathered possession down the right, delicately danced past his marker and picked out Gavin Hurren for a close range header which Mawson made a mess of trying to keep out.

If the Halifax stopper was partially at fault for that goal then he must have wanted the ground to swallow him up for the clincher which was downright embarrassing.

From the stands it seemed Russ Penn should have kept possession rather than trying his luck from 30 yards and although his strike was clean enough there was no way it should have squirmed through Mawson's hands.

Iyseden Christie's return in place of the willing if limited Gary Hay gave Harriers further reason to be cheerful, even if the striker's harsh booking has ruled him out of the Gravesend game.

But the rub of the green Mark Yates's men have been missing in the past three games may have returned in the nick of time with this FA Trophy fillip promising to breathe fresh life into their flagging season.

Kidderminster (4-4-2): Bevan 7, Kenna 7, Creigton 8, Whitehead 7, Harkness 7, RUSSELL 9, Hurren 7, Penn 8, Blackwood 8, Hay 6(Christie 74, 7), Constable 8 (Sedgemore 90). Subs not used: White, Taylor, Smikle.

Halifax (4-4-2): Mawson, Doughty (Wright 82), Kearney, Forrest, Killeen, Billy, Bastians, Cresswell, Trotman, Uhlenbeek, Stamp (Haslam 60). Subs not used: Toulson, Torpey, Butler.

Attendance: 1,580 Referee: G Lewis (Cambridgeshire).