Kiddy:1 U's:3

Every season has it's defining moments. For me, last year it was both the games with Stevenage; the first one showed that we were more than a match for the leagues best (at the time) sides and the second proved we had bouncebackability following an indifferent run of form.

I've got a sneaking feeling that last nights game could be one of this campaigns defining matches. In the past we've crumbled when having to defend the lead, especially once the opposition have pulled a goal back. However, against the Harriers we put in a confident and dominant second half performance which resulted in a win much more comfortable than the 3-1 scoreline suggests.

Our first win at Aggborough for more than 50 years never looked in doubt after Scotty had put us in front from the penalty spot. Bolland and McMahon had already gone close before Kiddy keeper Adam Bartlett hit a clearance straight at the Rendell, who controlled the ball and was about the pull the trigger when he was bundled over from behind by Keith Lowe. It may have been just outside the box, but Scotty wasn't going to complain, and as usual smashed in an immaculate penalty to the keepers left.

Be it by luck or judgement, the Tinkerman hit upon a formation (4-3-1-2) and line up that worked to perfection, with Carden and new boy Jai Reason snapping into tackles all over the park, and Beesley playing the link role to perfection. By contrast, Kiddy were sluggish, and consistantly misplaced passes as they looked to find dangerous front men Justin Richards and Matthew Barnes-Homer. Mark Yates side have looked very average on both occasions I've seen them play this season, and it probably says a lot about the quality of the league that they still have a realistic chance of reaching the play offs.

Holroyd made it 2-0 in the 31st minute. A super pass from Reason put Rendell in the clear, and although Bartlett pawed away his initial shot, Holroyd (pictured) latched onto the rebound and put it away with a well improvised overhead finish.

Kidderminster's equaliser was so out of the blue it could've come directly from the bottom of the ocean. A quick throw found Richards in the box, and he and Andy Ferrell worked the ball back to the unmarked Barnes-Homer, who finished confidently past Danny Potter. 1-2.

It seemed all set up for a nail-biting 45 minutes for U's fans, but Brabin's battlers enjoyed as much dominance in the second period as they did in the first. Rendell drew a great save from Bartlett as the home side failed to clear a string of corners. Their vulnerability from crosses was their downfall on the crucial third goal. Gleeson whipped in a beauty from the right, which was forced in at the far post by a combination of Holroyd and a defender. Holly's goal, obviously. 3-1.

The speedy striker could and should have had a hatrick before the end, volley a left footer straight at the keeper then heading over an open after a superb run and cross from captain Carden. Potter remained untroubled, and Kiddy's night was summed up when they won a free kick right on the edge of the area, and instead of going for goal tried to overcomplicate things and passed straight back to a yellow shirt.

So yeah, all happy days really; an excellent showing that Paul Parker called "one of the best away team performances I've seen since watching Conference football". I've always said that man knows what he's talking about.

Man of the Match: Paul Carden - The dominant presence on the pitch was instrumental at both ends of the pitch.