Harriers 1, Boston United 0

ELTON Ngwatala's late header handed Harriers a hard-fought victory over a battling Boston United side.

Kidderminster struggled to find a way through for long spells at Aggborough but finally bagged the points to keep their promotion push well on track and hit back after Tuesday night's defeat at Stalybridge.

It was Harriers doing most of the pressing in the first half but they never looked like breaking their visitors down.

Boston, without offering too much in attack, looked well drilled and quickly snapped into the challenges to keep the Reds at bay.

Harriers, meanwhile, looked a little flat and short of ideas when they did work the ball into the final third.

It took until just before the half hour mark until they created their first real opportunity.

The ball was worked out to the left to advanced full back Zaine Francis-Angol. He played a neat ball to the feet of Dan Nti who turned but drifted his effort past the far post.

Sam Austin curled a right-footed effort well wide in first half stoppage time as Durrant remained untroubled.

The hosts needed a spark in the second half and it looked like they had come out with purpose when Nti fired at Durrant from distance two minutes in.

Boston did work a rare opportunity on 57 minutes when Ben Gordon got in behind sub Tyrone Williams and forced Sam Hornby to save low down at his near post.

Harriers continued to struggle to open up United for long spells until substitute Manny Sonupe burst onto the scene on 65 minutes.

He nipped in and powered his way in behind the Boston back line and had only Durrant to beat. But the keeper made spread himself to deflect his shot away from goal.

Still chances remained few and far between and it looked like another frustrating afternoon when Ngwatala speculatively shot well wide with 15 minutes left on the clock.

The winner came just three minutes from time when Josh McQuilkin was set free down he left by Sonupe.

His cross was headed onto the top of the bar by Andre Brown but Ngwatala was on hand to nod in at the far post to hand his side an important three points.

Harriers remain in second place and six points behind leaders AFC Fylde but are now just one win from securing a play-off place with three games remaining this season.

They now go to already-relegated Altrincham this Monday.

Harriers: Hornby, Ezewele (Williams 32), Francis-Angol, Croasdale, Lowe (c), Tunnicliffe, Nti, McQuilkin, Ironside (Brown 75), Ngwatala, Austin (Sonupe 60).

Unused Subs: Knights, Truslove.

Boston: Durrant, Thomas, Yeoman, Gordon (Briscoe 74), Batchelor, Robinson, Chapman (c), Simmons (Vince 50), Rollins, Bishop, Broadhead.

Unused Subs: Clarke, Hawley, Gatter.

Att: 2,056 (107)