Salisbury 0
Harriers 1

WINGER Michael Blackwood grabbed a first half winner as defiant Harriers ended Salisbury's unbeaten home run in the Blue Square Premier in Wiltshire on Saturday.

Harriers produced a defiant defensive performance in the second half as they withstood a barrage of pressure by a powerful Salisbury side.

The victory was just what manager Mark Yates would have ordered from his players after watching them produced several erratic performances at the back in recent weeks.

But Harriers battled hard and rode their luck to take all three points back to Aggborough.

Blackwood saw an early effort saved by Salisbury goalkeeper Ryan Clarke in an open first half.

Salisbury's towering striker Robert Matthews headed off target in the 17th minute to let the visitors off the hook.

But while Salisbury were creating more chances, Harriers looked just as dangerous and Blackwood got on the end of a great move to put them ahead in the 38th minute.

Justin Richards raced onto Andy Ferrell's pass down the left wing and slipped the ball to Blackwood, who calmly slid it beyond the keeper.

Harriers goalkeeper Chris MacKenzie, on a month's loan from Shrewsbury, then denied Matthew Tubbs with an acrobatic save late in the half.

The home side stepped up the tempo in the second half and pegged Harriers back, but the centreback pairing of Mark Creighton and Stuart Whitehead kept them at bay.

Whitehead made two brilliant challenges to deny Tubbs after he had infiltrated Harriers' box.

Harriers were struggling to get forward but James Constable did set up Blackwood, who was only denied by a brilliant last gasp block by Timothy Bond.

Constable seemed to be fouled by last man Matthew Robinson as he raced towards goal in the 75th minute, but the referee Mr Keith Yeo did not book the Salisbury man.

Salisbury continued to pile on the pressure but could not take their chances, with substitute Marvin Brown shooting wide, before Creighton made an excellent challenge on him near the end.

Harriers had to survive six injury time minutes after the game was delayed when both teams clashed late on.

But the team defiantly shut out frustrated Salisbury to keep their fourth clean sheet of the season.

Harriers: MacKenzie7; Harkness 6; Creighton 7; WHITEHEAD 8; Constable 6; Richards 6; Penn 6; Blackwood 7; Ferrell 6 (Smikle, 70); Bignot 6; Bennett 6.

Salisbury; Clarke; Bass; Robinson; Cook (Bond, 45); Oliver; Fowler; Bartett; Turk (Brown 75); Matthews; Tubbs; Prince (Feeney 66).

Referee: Mr Keith Yeo. Attendance: 1,621.