Harriers put in a tremendous defensive performance to get back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory at AFC Telford United.

The terrible luck Harriers have endured with injuries and suspensions continued to deliver blows – before this game Aaron Phillips was the latest name to be ruled out. As a result, Harry Higginson came in for his first start for the club in a re-shuffled line-up, while Nick Clayton-Phillips did similar after an eye-catching sub appearance a week earlier.

The game got off to the best possible start as Harriers set about the task with a real determination – just three minutes on the clock when Chambers freed Clayton-Phillips on the angle who advanced into the area before firing into the corner to give the visitors the lead.

It was a lead Chambers then almost doubled when he found space at the by-line before seeing a shot blocked, before Udoh up at the other end collided with Hall in shooting over the bar, the Harriers custodian adding yet another name to that injury list in the process as he was forced off.

Deeney would then shoot over for Telford before Palmer tipped around the post a shot from former Harrier Knights, Harriers almost stealing a second on the break when Higginson played in Ironside who narrowly lost out in a race to the ball with the Telford goalkeeper.

Knights was then perhaps fortunate to just escape with a yellow card for a horrible swipe at Clayton-Phillips, before Palmer again had to be on guard to ensure he kept hold of a Daniels free kick.

The second half was more a showing of resolute defending for the away side. Early after the restart, Knights and McQuilkin had half chances but couldn’t find the target. Harriers perhaps should have made it two when, on 55 minutes, Clayton-Phillips played Chambers through with a neat pass, the striker taking a touch but being denied by the fingertips of the goalkeeper.

Off the bench, home striker Dinanga did well to keep the ball out wide before cutting inside and wastefully firing across the face of the target, Knights similarly wayward with his shooting with just under a quarter-hour to go.

Daniels, with just a few minutes to go, drove a free kick towards the near post that Palmer cleared away, the young custodian then heroically throwing himself on the ball after spilling moments previously.

Harriers saw out five minutes of injury time to record a valuable victory.

Harriers: Hall (Palmer 12), Vaughan, Higginson, Horsfall, Heaton, Austin, Penn (Butterfield 85), Weeks, Clayton-Phillips, Ironside, Chambers (McAlinden 80).

Subs not used: Lowth, Stratford Attendance: 1,714 Referee: Elliott Swallow