Hinckley 1
Harriers 2

SUPER-SUB Iyseden Christie's christmas cracker in the 90th minute winner meant Harriers made it three wins in a row and booked their place in the fifth round of the Setanta Shield on Saturday.

An under strength Harriers side huffed and huffed against the Blue Square North Division side, before Christie's cool finish set up a fifth round home clash against Rushden and Diamonds on Tuesday, February 5.

Manager Mark Yates would have been pleased that his side ground out a result for the third game in a row, especially after captain Stuart Whitehead was sent off in the second half.

Harriers are struggling to find the fluency they have sporadically shown so far this season, but the team has displayed a remarkable spirit which helped them get over a dodgy November.

The gaffer would also be pleased with his younger players, who were handed rare starts against Hinckley.

He selected second choice keeper Dean Coleman and gave defender Jon Munday his first start since August.

Experienced right back Jeff Kenna also made his first start since going under the knife for a hernia in October, while top scorer James Constable returned to the side after serving a three-match ban.

Munday, who last made a start when Harriers lost 5-1 at Grays Athletic, was determined to prove his worth and he produced a composed performance.

He almost handed Harriers the lead in a frenetic opening period, but his shot from close range was turned around the post by Hinckley stopper Sean Bowles.

Coleman also calmed his nerves and gave himself some much-needed confidence, when he dived onto striker Leon Kelly's feet after he sprung the offside trap.

Set-piece specialist Jonny Harkness almost produced a repeat of the winner against Guiseley, but Bowles athletically saved the left back's 30-yard free-kick.

Constable had a quiet game after returning from his three-match ban, but he was not about to miss a simple chance in the 24th minute. Matthew Barnes-Homer won the ball and sent in a teasing low cross and the top scorer side-footed a shot beyond the stranded Bowles to give Harriers a deserved lead.

The visitors continued to be the better side but the complexion of the game changed in the space of a minute.

Winger Simon Russell's 30-yard effort was stopped by the impressive Bowles and sixty seconds later Hinckley midfielder Owen Story grabbed a 34th minute leveller after an error by Harkness.

While Harkness is excellent from dead-ball scenarios, he sometimes is unsure in defence and gifted Story his goal when he mis-controlled a long punt forward.

All of a sudden Hinckley were in charge and pushed stunned Harriers back.

The biggest turning point came at the start of the second half when Whitehead was sent off. He had allowed the ball to bounce over him just outside the penalty area and as substitute forward Harry Harris tried to get round him the Harriers captain brought him down.

This spurred Hinckley on but despite the host's pressure, Harriers continued to carve out the better chances.

Brian Smikle raced through but Bowles dived at his feet in the 58th minute.

Frustrated Yates had an ace up his sleeve and threw on Russ Penn and Iyseden Christie in the 71st minute.

The ploy proved to be effective as Christie set up Barnes-Homer for a shot and Penn saw a fierce effort fly just wide.

At the other end Hinckley were looking for a second goal, but the excellent Coleman tipped over Harris' looping header and got to Calum Lloyd's shot.

But Harriers had the last laugh when Christie raced onto Smikle's pass, held off Michael Byron to grab the winner.

Harriers: COLEMAN 8; Kenna 7; Harkness 6 (Bignot, 78mins) ; Hurren 7; Whitehead; Russell 6 (Penn, 71mins); Constable 6 (Christie, 71mins); Smikle 7; McGrath 6; Munday 7; Barnes-Homer 6 Hinckley: Bowles; Roma; Lenton; Lavery; Byron; Jackson; Story; Storer; Kelly; Johnson; Lloyd Referee: Dean Mohareb. Attendance:474