AFC WIMBLEDON 0
HARRIERS 1

IMPRESSIVE Harriers made it back-to-back wins in the Blue Square Premier with a determined smash and grab 1-0 win at fellow play-off hopefuls AFC Wimbledon.

IMPRESSIVE Harriers made it back to back wins in the Blue Square Premier with a determined smash and grab 1-0 win at fellow play-off hopefuls AFC Wimbledon.

With just one away win all season prior to the game, the odds were perhaps against Mark Yates' men as they made the trip to Kingsmeadow to tackle a Dons side who've taken to Conference football like a duck to water.

But if that was the case they never allowed it to show – Matthew Barnes-Homer's sixth goal of the season was ruthless and, arguably, one of the only clear-cut chances of the afternoon. After the visitors had surged ahead moments in the second half, the predicable pressure was forthcoming but Dean Coleman and his defence stood strong, skipper and stand-in central defender Chris McPhee putting in another Man of the Match display.

Perhaps the closest the progressive home side came to breaching Harriers was with the score at 0-0 – Barnes-Homer and John Finnigan had all seen efforts saved before Coleman pulled off a remarkable save from Chris Hussey's rising shot from outside the box. It was a matter of inches – fingertips in fact – but the stop kept Terry Brown's side at bay and allowed the men from Aggborough to build.

From there they did, McPhee forcing a point-blank save from home stopper James Pullen following Darryl Knights' intelligent 31st minute corner.

Prior to the break there was further joy for the visiting side on the counter-attack, and it was end-to-end stuff as Barnes-Homer's snap-shot from 20 yards was held, Robbie Matthews then trying his luck from long-range with a shot that went over the target.

Harriers have scored key goals at the start of the second half in many games this term – the likes of Altrincham and Mansfield all put to the sword with swift efforts after the re-start. It was the same again at Kingsmeadow as they flew out of the traps from the kick-off, Smikle providing the assist for Barnes-Homer to apply the finish – Pullen beaten as the deadlock was broken, the vocal home side silenced at least temporarily.

Within moments they were almost on their feet, however, Ross Montague's chipped diagonal ball fell sweetly on to the head of Hussey who struck off target. On 52 minutes they went even closer as the away defence stood off Lewis Taylor's charging run for fear of conceding a penalty and an almost certain dismissal. The Wimbledon man drove through them all before somehow conspiring to fire wide of Coleman's upright when it looked easier to score.

On 68 minutes Harriers made a break for it into the Wimbledon area and wasted a good chance to have killed the game off – Barnes-Homer muscled his man and cut-inside from the flank, laying the ball off to the onrushing Smikle who took a few strides before chipping the ball over both Pullen and the crossbar.

Wimbledon went for broke with attacking substitutions late on, Harriers counting with some defensive changes. They saw out four minutes of added time to clinch a dogged victory.

AFC Wimbledon: Pullen, Hatton, Inns, Johnson, Hussey, Taylor (Duncan 68), Gregory, Adjei (Conroy 68), Moore, Kedwell, Montague (Main 60).

Subs not used: Brown, Conroy.

Harriers: Coleman 7, Courtney 6, Riley 7, McPHEE 8, Baker 7, Smikle 6, Finnigan 7, Bennett 6, Knights 6 (Dolman 87) 6, Barnes-Homer 7 (Caines 93) 6, Matthews 7.

Subs not used: Singh, Hadley, Farrell.

Referee: Simon Long (Suffolk).

Attendance: 3,601