WHAT a difference a week makes.

In the space of just seven days Kidderminster have gone from Aggborough also-rans to genuine Conference contenders - and long may it continue.

Since boss Mark Yates was forced to tell Harriers a few home truths after their defeat at York, they have performed like a completely different team.

They have smashed their home hoodoo, recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season, scored two goals in a game and played committed, entertaining football.

Saturday's trip to Lancashire also had the added bonus of proving that the Southport success was not a one-off and that Harriers were capable of taking on the division's so-called strongest teams.

One man who has epitomised this transformation is Iyseden Christie and last season's top scorer was the deserved match-winner at, of all places, Christie Park.

Yates's revelation that Dean Sturridge had spoken to the striker about producing the goods on a consistent basis was interesting because it seems to have had the desired effect.

Just two weeks ago, Christie was quoted in the Shuttle saying he would rather be a player who doesn't run around and scores goals rather than the other way round.

Suddenly, he is running round and scoring goals and to anybody who knows what talent the big man possesses it is a thrilling prospect.

Christie's first goal of his second Kidderminster coming was enough to win an open and entertaining game against Sammy McIlroy's Shrimps.

The on-loan frontman showed a clinical touch to turn in Andy White's header from six yards out after Jake Sedgemore's deep free kick from the half-way line unsettled the Morecambe defence.

The 73rd minute goal was another ringing endorsement of the Christie-White partnership which is starting to flourish since Iyseden teed up Andy for the opener against Southport.

Harriers could - and should - have been a goal to the good before they broke the deadlock with Christie having a perfectly good tap-in ruled off for offside from substitute Michael Blackwood's left wing cross.

But if Yates's men were unfortunate on that occasion they certainly had the rub of the green on countless other occasions throughout the match.

The main moment when their luck held out came midway through the first half when Garry Thompson made his entry for the miss of the season.

Although David McNiven appeared to be a couple of yards offside the flag stayed down and he swept an inviting pass into the path of Thompson.

But with the goal at his mercy and just five yards out the Morecambe winger somehow contrived to hit the back of the stand rather than the back of the net.

That was a major let-off for Harriers who also survived a second-miunte scare when Fraser McLachlan failed to find the net from Danny Carlton's right wing corner.

But Harriers had chances of their own before the break, the best of which fell to Simon Russell, who twice failed to beat keeper Steven Dredge from one-on-one positions.

Gavin Hurren was the architect on both occasions, launching the attacks down the right with measured long balls, but Russell's aim and composure was lacking.

Hurren himself forced Dredge into a smart save in the second half, but not before Kidderminster keeper Scott Bevan had produced heroics of his own to palm away McNiven's header.

Danny Blackburn also ended a spell of penalty box pinball by scuffing a good chance wide, while Bevan was forced to be alert to clutch substitute Matthew Shaw's last gasp strike.

Harriers were forced to weather the Shrimps storm at times - but Yates's assertion that people get what they deserve was right as his improving team ran out worthy winners.

Morecambe (4-4-2): Drench; Yates, Blackburn (Meadowcroft 89), Brannan, Perkins; Thompson (Shaw 72), Hunter, McLachlan, Twiss; McNiven, Carlton.

Subs not used: Davies, Howard, Smith.

Booked: McLachlan 34, Carlton 59, Perkins 62.

Harriers (4-4-2): Bevan 7; Sedgemore 7, Creighton 7, Whitehead 7, Harkness 7; Russell 7 (Smikle 79, 7), Hurren 7, Penn, McGrath 6 (Blackwood 55); White 7 (Reynolds 85), CHRISTIE 8. Subs not used: McClen, S Taylor.

Booked: Hurren 23, Penn 29, Harkness 66.

Referee: J Collin (Liverpool) Attendance: 1,496.