HARRIERS 3 HARTLEPOOL 2

SATURDAY'S must-win Division Three clash was a particularly sweet success for boss Jan Molby and not just because it boosted play-off hopes.

It was the first time Molby's team had battled back to win after going a goal down this season.

And the comeback was no mean feat after a quite awful first half which could have seen Harriers well beaten.

One thing is for sure, the Aggborough home changing room will have been a much better place to be at 5pm, than during the interval.

Goals from Abdou Sall, Colin Larkin and Dean Bennett with a late winner secured a vital victory against their play-off rivals.

After a five-game-without-a-win stutter, Harriers made it six points in five days and were again within reach of several higher-placed sides.

But Harriers' heads were firmly in their hands after a disjointed first half display with nothing going for it apart from luck.

They should have been more than one goal down after Ritchie Humphreys struck Hartlepool ahead on only four minutes, crashing home Mark Tinkler's pass.

James Coppinger narrowly failed to turn in Tinkler's mis-hit shot three minutes later then Craig Hinton blocked a certain goal for Humphreys.

The dangerous Humphreys shot straight at keeper Stuart Brock from the edge of the area on 13 minutes before lashing a superb drive into the side netting from distance.

Hartlepool looked like the genuine play-off contenders but missed a prime chance on 37 minutes when Tinkler headed Paul Smith's precise cross into Brock's hands.

Harriers had been overwhelmed in midfield with Danny Williams, returning after a three-game absence, still getting back into his stride.

An unfortunate groin injury to left-back Scott Stamps was to work in Harriers' favour.

Adie Smith dropped back to midfield, Bo Henriksen to midfield and in came the physical presence Harriers needed in Drewe Broughton up-front.

Smith's deflected effort, which so nearly wrong-footed keeper Tony Williams, was an indication of their intent.

They equalised on 56 minutes as the towering Sall rammed a header into the net from one of several fine corners delivered by Ian Foster's right foot.

Harriers stormed into the lead just eight minutes later when Bennett found Larkin in the box and he put recent finishing woes to one side with a calm shot under the keeper.

A ding-dong battle continued to swing from end to end and Hartlepool hit back themselves on 73 minutes.

Experienced forward Gordon Watson, on as substitute, released Tinkler with a tremendous through-ball and the midfielder rounded Brock on the edge of the area to tap home.

Yet there was to be another twist in the tale when Sall's excellent run and pass was fired lethally past T Williams with three minutes left by top scorer Bennett.

Harriers had pinched the game and it was about time because the boot has been on the other foot so often in the past.

HARRIERS: Brock 7; Clarkson 7, SALL 8, Hinton 8, Stamps 6 (Broughton 46, 7); A Smith 6, D Williams 6, Bennett 8; Larkin 7, Henriksen 7, Foster 7 (Bird 89). Subs not used: Danby, Shilton, Ayres.

HARTLEPOOL: T Williams; Barron, Lee, Westwood, Robinson; Coppinger (Clarke 59), Tinkler, Stephenson (Easter 89), P Smith; Henderson (Watson 59), Humphreys. Subs not used: Hollund, Arnison. ATTENDANCE: 2,894.

SHOTS ON TARGET: Harriers 4, Hartlepool 5.

SHOTS OFF TARGET: Harriers 9, Hartlepool 5.

CORNERS: Harriers 4, Hartlepool 11.

GOALS: Humphreys 4, Sall 58, Larkin 64, Tinkler 73, Bennett 87.

YELLOW CARDS: Harriers 1 (Sall), Hartlepool 0.

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Abdou Sall. Colossal second-half display from the big defender whose strength, power in the air and thoughtful distribution helped him to a goal and an assist.