Harriers stretched their unbeaten run to three games for the first time this season, coming from behind to grab a narrow victory, their first over Gateshead since 1996.

Fielding the same line-up for the third game a row there was still no Robbie Matthews or John Finnigan who were both still injured.  Harriers were slow to get going and the early stages of the game were quite dour.

The visitors took the lead on 12 minutes when Alex Francis' free-kick 25 yards out on the left found its way through, taking a slight deflection on the way, to beat Dean Coleman and go in at the far post.  Harriers drew level twelve minutes later Matt Barnes-Homer got some space out on the right wing and crossed to the near post were Gateshead defender Chris Swailes met the ball with a thumping header that flew into his own net giving Jim Provett no chance to save.

By this time Harriers had lost Dean Bennett to injury, his place taken by youth teamer Nathan Hayward for his Conference debut.  Hayward slotted in well in the centre of midfield giving a performance that belied his lack of experience.

Ten minutes before the break Harriers could have take the lead; a corner from the right was not cleared and after some head tennis in the penalty area skipper Chris McPhee's header dropped just wide of the far post.  Harriers did take the lead on 39 minutes; Barnes-Homer's pass through the inside-left channel put in Brian Smikle who rifled in his fourth goal of the season with a first-time shot over Provett.  In the last minute of the half Hayward and Darryl Knights combined to set up McPhee on the right but his shot hit the far post and was scrambled clear.

Early in the second half Knights won the ball on the right and set up Barnes-Homer who shot wide of the far post.  Just past the hour mark Gateshead leveled the scores; a cross from the left found its way to Kris Gate who smashed a volley from the edge of the penalty area past Coleman.

Ten minutes from the end Harriers regained the lead; a long clearance by Coleman was flicked on towards the visiting defenders who had plenty of opportunities to clear before Barnes-Homer got to the ball, but even then they could have got it away, and he managed to nudge it past Provett and into the bottom corner to record his fourth goal of the season.  In the closing stages Harriers could have increased their lead further; Lee Baker's cross from deep on the left was knocked down by Barnes-Homer to Knights whose shot from just outside the penalty area fizzed narrowly wide.