A goal in each half was enough to earn Harriers victory as they bounced back from their thrashing at Doncaster.  Goals from Dean Keates, his first for the club, and Dean Bennett ensured a deserved win that moved the team away from the releagation zone and their highest position since December.

Adrian Viveash was drafted into the side for his debut alongside skipper Wayne Hatswell who made a surprise appearance after suffering from concussion.  John Williams retained his place in attack while Ian Foster returned at the expense of Jesper Christiansen in attack; Jan molby switched his formation back to the same 4-3-3 that had won the last home game against Swansea City.

The early stages of the game were cagey with both teams playing cautiously, careful not to give too much away.  Goalmouth action was limited and both sides were forced to try long range shots; Adam Murray twice tried his luck for Harriers while Josh Low wasn't too far away from breaking the deadlock for The Cobblers.  After a quiet opening twenty minutes Harriers took the lead after 28 when Keates rifled in his first goal in Harriers colours, picking up a knock down from John Williams.

Soon afterwards Harriers, playing with renewed confidence, went close to adding a second;  a long ball out of defence found John Williams who helped the ball on to Bennett on the right and he flashed a shot across the face of goal and narrowly wide of the far post.  Northampton went close at the other end:  a deep left-wing free-kick found Chris Hargreaves at the near post and he glanced a header wide of the far post.  Harriers should have gone into the break two goals up, another long ball from the back found Williams who ran clear of the visitors' defence and got to the ball ahead of goalkeeper Ian Harper.  Williams played the ball past the 'keeper and ran round him but was denied a goal by a fantastic latch ditch tackle by Ian Sampson just as he was about to put the ball into the empty net.

The second goal arrived just 92 seconds into hte second half; Murray's pass set Ian Foster free on the left wing, he cut inside and crossed to the far post where Bennett, on hte edge of the penalty area, hit a powerful volley on the turn that gave Harper no chance.  Moments later Harriers were awarded a free-kick on the right wing, Keates' kick evaded everybody in the penalty area and drifted inches wide of the far post.

A tense closing period of hte game was guaranteed when Harriers gifted the visitors a goal.  Smith's corner from the left found an unmarked Hargreaves who powered a header in from close range to highlight Harriers' weakness at defending set-pieces.  Viveash almost marked his debut with a goal soon afterwards; a Murray corner from the left was only half cleared and when Hatswell played the ball back into the anger area from the opposite wing Viveash was on hand to head the ball goalwards only to be denied by a good save from Harper.  Hatswell headed wide from another corner moments later as harriers pressed for a third.

Chances flowed from the Harriers team, twenty minutes from time Bennett found himself clear on the right and lobed the ball over the advancing Harper onlyto see it bounce off the freezing pitch and hit the bar before Town scrambled it clear.  Soon after Williams broke cleare of the defence only to be denied by the keeper who was quick off his line, Harper could only parry the ball, however, and it went to Murray who hit it straight back but without power and Harper was able to save again.

Ten minutes from the end Harriers had another scare when Smith's corner from the left found Chris Wilmott at the near post but he could only guide his header into the side netting.  Harriers survived and played out much of the remaining time with the ball as close to the Northampton corner flags as possible before referee Ilderton blew his whistle to end the game to much relief from the home crowd.