GOALS either side of half time from James Constable saw Harriers leap into the top half of the Conference with a deserved and hard-fought 2-1 win over Stafford Rangers today.
It was never going to be the prettiest of encounters and certainly didn't prove to be a classic, but the vocal away following of more than 300 were treated to a performance of real grit.
Craig McAughtrie pulled a late goal back for the hosts with a powering header to ensure the final minutes of the match had some edge, but Constable's classy double had arguably already wrapped up the points for Mark Yates' men.
It could have been a different story, perhaps, if Guy Madjo had been a little more alert early on, he unwittingly squeezed in between two Harriers' defenders with the ball but seemed to surprise himself more than anything, his weak shot no trouble for Bevan.
Iyseden Christie and Constable worked well together throughout the afternoon, Christie's headed lay-off to his strike partner just seven minutes in saw Danny Alcock spring into action.
There were goalmouth scrambles at both ends before the half hour mark, Constable's header was clawed off the line when it looked destined for the net, just after Gavin Hurren superbly blocked a Stafford shot with the goal otherwise wide open.
It was difficult to get much control of the ball on such a rough surface but it was Harriers who carved out the better opportunities, the deadlock was broken three minutes before the break when Constable latched onto another Christie lay-off to fire under the body of Alcock.
The second half was an even more scrappy affair that at times got a little heated with wayward tackles flying around, Simon Russell could've made it two just five minutes into the half, though; he found himself in a good position in front of goal, but in attempting a cross he could only dink the ball back to the grateful goalkeeper.
Alcock's afternoon got from bad to worse on 57 minutes as that lead was indeed doubled, a deep ball in the area saw Christie head backwards into the path of the in-form Constable, whose finishing seems so impeccable, he fired home his second of the game and fifth goal in four games for Harriers.
The home side, without a goal in their last three games, were desperate for a way back into things but were largely wasteful with their chances, Robin Gibson was in acres of space in the area but slammed a shot into the side netting.
With 72 on the clock Jonny Harkness went close with another good free-kick but ten minutes later it was Rangers who had the ball in the back of the net, substitute Dolapo Olaoye managed to get past two defenders to fire in his cross, with McAughtrie on hand to head home.
Bevan didn't have the busiest of afternoons but was called into action to make one of the best saves of the season - even by his high standards - just five minutes from time when Gibson unleashed a belter of a shot from 25 yards that the 'keeper just managed to tip around the post.
Harriers saw out the game professionally and deservedly recorded their third straight conference win for the first time this season. The boys now sit in 11th place in the Conference ahead of Saturday's trip to struggling Southport.
Stafford: Alcock, Sutton, McAughtrie, Daniel, Talbott, Gibson, Basham, Murphy, Edwards (Olaoye 65), Grayson, Madjo (Barlow 66).
Subs Not Used: Hopkinson, Oldfield, Murray.
Harriers: Bevan, Kenna, Creighton, Whitehead, Harkness, Russell, Hurren, Penn, Blackwood, Christie (White 87), Constable (Reynolds 90).
Subs Not Used: Steve Taylor, Smikle, Davies.
Referee: Ian Smedley
Attendance: 1,758 (475 away confirmed)
