Harriers moved up to 13th in the Conference thanks to Simon Russell's first half strike, his second of the season, which was ultimately enough to beat second-from-bottom Crawley Town.

Crawley arrived at Aggborough on the back of a confidence boosting win at Altrincham at the weekend that had lifted them off the foot of the table but they still looked like a struggling side and Harriers, showing two changes from the team that drew at Tamworth, were able to deal with most of what they had to offer.  Jonny Harkness had recovered from injury to return to the side but Daryl Burgess had not so Gavin Hurren came in in his place with Junior Osborne moving to full back and Jake Sedgemore moving forward into midfield to take over from Russ Penn who had flu.

The game was not the most exciting, particularly in the opening stages, and in the first fifteen minutes the best action was a Harkness free kick from the right that Phil Smith in the visitors' goal held at the near post.  Lee Thompson fired a good chance over the bar after being set up by stand-in captain Terry Fleming but it was not until the 24th minute that the game came to life when Russell fired Harriers ahead.  Receiving the ball on the left wing he cut inside his marker a fired a curling shot from 25 yards into the far top corner that had Smith grasping at thin air.

Once ahead Harriers began to impose themselves on the game and it was all one-way traffic until the break.  A Harkness corner from the right picked out Johnny Mullins at the near post but his glancing header went wide of the far post.  Ten minutes before the break Harriers felt that they should have had a penalty; a free-kick was pumped into the box from the right, Andy White headed it back into the danger are towards Thompson who appeared to be clearly pushed from behind but the referee waved play on.  White went close himself after a Gareth Sheldon knock down set him up but his volley was too close to Smith who was able to gather it comfortably.

After the break Harriers continued to dominate but were unable to find the second goal that would probably have allowed them to go on and win the game comfortably.  As the game wore on the visitors sensed that they might be able to get something out of the game with Harriers seeming more and more content to make do with what they had.  John Danby did well to tip over a David Woozley header just after the hour mark.

Harkness was instrumental in most of Harriers most dangerous play; he had a 30-yard free kick pushed away by Smith for a corner and then another free-kick, from out on the right wing, found White at the far post who forced the ball home but had pushed Woozley in the process and the goal was disallowed.

At the other end substitute Danny Clay hit a low drive from long distance through a crowd of legs that Danby saw late but got down to well to save and then Tony Scully was allowed to jink his way into the penalty area but fired his shot straight at Danby.  Right at the death the visitors almost found an equaliser when Steve Burton's chip beat Danby but Osborne was in place to hook it away from the goal and Harriers could breathe again before running out stoppage time in the Crawley half.