Harriers kept up their remarkable run of form with a 2-1 win at Boston, a win secured without them being at their best according to boss Russ Penn.

A late goal from former Pilgrim Ashley Hemmings saw the Reds notch an eighth straight win in all competitions, the win a perfect follow-up to the FA Cup heroics against FC Halifax last time out.

The visitors had the lead in the first half through another ex-Boston man in Alex Penny, but it was the home side who were in the ascendancy for much of the first hour.

They equalised through Jake Wright’s second half goal, but Harriers weren’t deterred, and a freakish goal at the other end saw the 74 visiting fans sent into raptures to keep the good run going.

“To get the three points is fantastic,” Penn said at the final whistle. “I would’ve been pleased with a point, and I don’t think we were at our best.

“I’ll tell you what, when you stick together, and you run a little bit harder, and tackle a little bit stronger and head a little bit higher, you’ve always got a chance.

“We were probably lucky to be going in 1-0 up at half time, but then we kind of hit the reset button a little bit.

“We got our way back into the game at 1-1… fortunately, the deflection has gone our way, but sometimes you deserve your luck in games.”

Boston had looked dangerous early on and had forced Luke Simpson into a smart save through Jake Wright before Penny broke the deadlock on 13 minutes, heading home a dangerous Hemmings corner.

Simpson’s smart reactions then kept Leesley at bay before, on the stroke of half time, Sam Austin let fly from distance with a shot that looked set for the top corner before whistling just wide.

The hosts were out of the blocks quickly after the restart, Simpson saving from a header and Shane Byrne shot firing narrowly wide. The leveller was due when it came, with Wright left free to tuck a finish beyond Simpson having watched down his own header in the area.

With a quarter of an hour left to play, though, Harriers netted what proved to be the winner. Hemmings’ shot looked like it had been dealt with by a block that sent the ball sailing over for what looked to be a corner – only for the ball to drop wickedly over the goalkeeper and into the net.

The win keeps up Harriers momentum as they head into the first of their games in hand on Tuesday night with a trip to Curzon Ashton in National League North.