Harriers 1
Cambridge 0

A MISERABLE March that had wrecked Harriers’ play-off and FA Trophy hopes was signed off in positive fashion as they ended their seven-game winless run in some style on Tuesday night.

Forget March madness, the last four weeks has been a tough trudge that management, fans and players alike will be quickly erasing from their minds.

And a sparkling performance certainly helped a little to ease the pain of recent weeks as Harriers’ stopped Cambridge’s impressive 10-game unbeaten run.

Infact, the only criticism that manager Steve Burr might have had was that his side did not score more goals.

But overall he had a renewed spring in his step after watching his side win their first game since he received the manager of the month award four weeks before.

He said: “I’ve been disappointed with our recent run after the way we started, but that was a bit more like how I want my sides to play, especially in the first half.

“We passed it well in the first half but I thought they might score one at the end with the way the game went and how we dominated.

“I’m just pleased we got through it and at the end of the day it was a great victory.”

Striker Darryl Knights, restored to the side after missing out on Saturday, produced a sparkling display but could not cap it with a more than deserved goal.

The 21-year-old is one of a number of players out of contract in the summer but he put any speculation about his future behind him to control the game.

Brian Smikle opened the scoring in the 18th minute when he was played through smartly by Knights and coolly drilled a low shot past keeper Simon Brown.

He was then denied by a combination of the post and Brown six minutes later when he stole in at the far post to meet Knights’ incisive low cross.

Dean Bennett was another gleeful recipient of Knights' creativity only to see his goalbound shot cleared away by Kevin Roberts.

There was no let up in chances in a frenetic second half, with Knights testing Brown’s reflexes and then seeing another effort from the edge of the box fly just wide.

Knights also harshly had an effort chalked off for offside, although it looked as though his instant control had confused the assistant referee after he had deftly brought down Smikle’s left-wing cross and emphatically smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Harriers almost paid the price when U’s top scorer Danny Crow saw a looping header crash off the bar.

Robbie Matthews almost marked a powerful display with a goal but the U’s shot-stopper spread himself wide to deny him, while substitute Lloyd Kerry and Knights found the keeper's reflexes in tip top condition late on.

But Harriers held on and sparked hopes that they can produce more enterprising football for the final eight games of the season.

Afterwards Burr conceded that leaving Knights out of Saturday’s loss to Salisbury had been a mistake.

He said: “I left Darryl out on Saturday and probably made a mistake doing that.

“He showed that he wants it and that’s all I’m looking for.

“There are a lot of contracts up here and whether they're here or elsewhere next season, the players can only dictate that with performances on the park. Collectively we were tremendous.”

Harriers: Atkins 6; Courtney 6; Riley 6 (Kerry, 60); Prosser 6; Sharpe 6; McPhee 7; Bennett 7; Smikle 6; Byrne 7; Knights 8; Matthews 7. Unused substitutes: Singh; Lawrie; Goodfellow; McDermott.

Cambridge: Brown; Coulson; Saah; Partridge; Murray (Russell, 46); Crow; Reason (McAuley, 46); Neilson; Roberts; Phillips (Willock, 70). Unused substitutes: Palmer; McAuley; Marriott.

Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire). Attendance: 1,141 (163)