Cambridge 0
Harriers 3

GRITTY Harriers recorded their first back-to-back away wins in the Blue Square Premier this season with a ruthless smash and grab in Cambridgeshire on Saturday.

A determined performance by Harriers' defence shut-out a mis-firing Cambridge and made them pay for some dozy defending with some clinical finishes by Matthew Barnes-Homer Listen to (read reaction).

Harriers' new-found sharpness and ruthlessness in front of goal underlines the team's confidence.

Their good form, which saw them record three wins in a row in the Blue Square Premier for the first time since January 2007, is renewing the fans' hope that their club will be more successful next season.

While the hosts saw a lot of the ball, they were stifled by the visitor's well-drilled back-four of Paul Bignot, Mark Creighton, Gavin Hurren and Alex Jeannin.

The visitors grew in confidence as the half wore on and scored against the run of play with their first attempt on target in the 26th minute.

Iyseden Christie headed a long ball forward into Barnes-Homer's path which allowed him to run at defender Joshua Coulson.

The Cambridge defender looked to have the livewire forward covered but as he backed off and on-loan Reading keeper Alex McCarthy hesitated it allowed the Harriers hitman to slot the ball beyond the pair.

Coulson almost made amends when his powerful effort was ruled out for a foul on Paul Bignot minutes later.

Creighton's last-ditch tackle dispossessed Vieira in the area in the 31st minute.

Coleman then kept the hosts at bay on the stroke of half-time when he dived to his left to save Coulson's 20-yard thunderbolt.

A Cambridge goal seemed inevitable in the second half as the hosts poured forward and Harriers started to feel the effects of playing their fourth games in eight days.

Winger Courtney Pitt, Rob Wolleaston and Vieira all spurned chances, before manager Mark Yates brought on some fresh legs with a double substitution in the 55th minute.

The inclusion of Andy Ferrell and Brian Smikle gave creaking Harriers a lift and turned the tables of wasteful United.

The visitors defended solidly and forced Cambridge to take pot shots from distance, which did not trouble the alert Coleman.

While the home team continued to miss the target Barnes-Homer made no mistake in the 67th minute after quick thinking by Smikle.

The winger stole the ball off Mark Peters, raced into the area and squared it to Barnes-Homer, who fired into the back of the net from a tight angle.

Defender Wayne Hatswell directed a header over bar after Wolleaston shot across goal, as Cambridge searched for a goal.

But Smikle once again caught Peters napping in the 85th minute to win a penalty.

Smikle skipped past a sluggish Peters, who clipped his heel in the area. Christie slotted the spot-kick to McCarthy's left to secure all three points.

Listen to podcast interview with Dean Bennett reflecting on victory.

Harriers: Coleman 7; Hurren 7; Creighton 7; Russell 7 (Smikle, 55, 8); Penn 7; Bignot 7; Bennett 7; BARNES-HOMER 9 (McGrath, 70); Jeannin 6; Christie 6; Knights 6 (Ferrell, 55, 6).

Cambridge: McCarthy; Reed; Peters; Wolleaston; Pitt; Jeffrey (Beesley, 74); Carden; Morrison; Coulson; Hatswell; Vieira (Boylan, 62).

Referee: Andrew Halliday. Attendance: 3,999.