Kidderminster Harriers 2 Cambridge United 1

BOSS Ian Britton is telling his Kidderminster Harriers players to keep their feet firmly on the ground after climbing into third place in the Nationwide League Division Three table thanks to two goals from John Melligan in Saturday's 2-1 win over Cambridge United at Aggborough.

Midfielder Melligan, in his second month on loan from Wolves, bagged his brace in the first half to lift Harriers to within five points of table-topping Hartlepool United.

Britton, however, is not getting carried away with his side's impressive rise up the table.

"I'll keep their feet on the ground," he said, adding: "Dare I say it but we are over achieving really. But there's a great spirit and camaraderie on and off the pitch and that's showing through the games."

Britton, however, believed that Harriers deserved their victory which ended the U's unbeaten run of five league matches.

He said: "We competed well and it could have been more. The first 20 minutes I thought we were off the pace and Cambridge were the better side.

"We got ourselves back in the game and then for the rest of the first-half we started to dominate and get a few chances."

Of Melligan's well taken brace, he said: "They were two really good goals but everybody played their part."

The 20-year-old took just four minutes to put Harriers ahead in what proved to be a highly entertaining first-half. He scored with a crisp shot after the opening had been created by a cross from Bo Henriksen.

Cambridge, however, delighted their 435 travelling fans by equalising in the eighth minutes when their leading marksman Dave Kitson scored after Harriers goalkeeper Stuart Brock had been unable to hold on to a shot from Shane Tudor.

Shortly afterwards Tom Youngs had an effort well saved by Brock and Omer Riza fired just over form long range before Melligan grabbed what proved to be the winner.

He netted in the 27th minute with a well hit angled shot after Cambridge's defence had been unsettled by hard working Drewe Broughton challenging for a cross from Sam Shilton.

It was Melligan's fifth goal in his ninth appearance for Harriers who had a chance to increase their lead shortly before half-time when captain Sean Flynn headed narrowly wide.

The tempo dipped in the second-half although Kidderminster nearly notched a third in the 82nd minute when substitute Ian Foster had a shot glance off the crossbar just three minutes after he had replaced Henriksen.

In stoppage time Brock ensured Kidderminster claimed maximum points by pulling off an excellent save to prevent Warren Goodhind scoring with a powerful header.