Harriers bounced back from their humiliation at the hands of Aldershot in perfect style with a narrow local derby win against ten-man Hereford United at Edgar Street.

New signings Simon Rea and Jon Newby came in for their debuts and both played well, Rea in particular marshalling the defence to a tenth clean sheet of the season and keeping the home team at bay to such an extent that they didn't manage a single shot on target.  Terry Fleming also returned to the team while out went the departed Junior Osborne and Simon Russell and Laurie Wilson.

Gareth Sheldon could have given Harriers a dream start after just ten minutes when a long ball over the inside-right channel found him but his low shot on the turn was held at the foot of the post by Wayne Brown.  Moments later there was an even better chance when Luke Reynolds played the ball out to Newby on the right and his low cross just evaded the outstretched leg of Reynolds who had continued his run into the penalty area.

At the other end Hereford were finding chances hard to come by although Stuart Fleetwood should have done better when he was allowed to jink his way into the penalty area on the left but then dragged his shot wide.  On the half hour Johnny Mullins had a glorious chance to open the scoring when he got on the end of Jonny Harkness' free kick from the right but his far post header went straight at Brown.

Hereford could have broken the deadlock when an Alex Jeannin free kick from the right found Tamika Mkandawire at the near post who headed wide with John Danby out of position.  Play switched back to the other end with Sheldon making a good run through the hoe defence on the right but fired his shot wide of the far post.  The game took a turn in Harriers' favour after 36 minutes, however, when Andrew Ferrell was halted by a heavy challenge from Terry Fleming and reacted badly to it, referee Chris Sarginson had no hesitation in showing the United man the red card.  Harriers went close twice more before the half was out as they tried to make their numerical advantage tell; Michael Blackwood cut in from the left and hit a low shot straight at the keeper and then in stoppage time Newby made another good run on the right and his low cross found Reynolds whose shot on the turn was held by Brown.

After the break Harriers found chances harder to come by as Hereford looked to hold on to the point that they had.  Mullins had a free header at a Harkness corner but headed the ball over the bar.  United had a free kick nearly 30 yards out that Jeannin fired over the bar; then they went close through Andy Williams who shot horribly wide after being played in by Adam Stansfield who left Mullins in a heap on the floor clutching his face as he fought his way into the penalty area.

The decisive goal came after 72 minutes; the ball was played in from the right to Blackwood who tried his luck from distance and his shot took a wicked deflection off Mkandawire and gave Brown no chance as he was no going the wrong way.  Hereford tried to mount a comeback, playing three men up front, but their only real chance came deep in stoppage time when Jamie Pitman muscled Russ Penn off the ball and crossed from the left for Williams who headed over the bar harmlessly.