Anthony Malbon's fourth goal in three games gave Harriers their first league win at Forest Green and moved them up to third place in the league.

A solid defensive performance throughout a tense game enabled them to record their 13th clean sheet of the season with Josh Gowling and Danny Lewis, in particular, impressive.

Also impressive, as were the whole team in truth, was Ricky Shakes who was surprisingly included at right back in place of the injured Lee Vaughan. Steve Burr made a further change to the side that had beaten Hyde 4-0 at the weekend bringing Danny Pilkington into the midfield in place of Callum Gittings.

The only goal of the game came on 26 minutes Malbon firing into the bottom corner of the net after Amari Morgan-Smith had helped on Marvin Johnson's cross.  Shortly before the break Yan Klukowski found the head of Eddie Oshodi with a free-kick from the right but the latter header over the bar at the far post.

After the break Rovers enjoyed most of the possession but the in-form Harriers defence never really looked like being breached. Lewis saved well from Klukowski's 25-yard free-kick on 51 minutes and made a smart double-save six minutes from the end to deny first Matt Taylor and then Magno Vieira to preserve the lead.

In between those Rovers attacks they failed to clear a Kyle Storer corner from the left, his second cross was headed goalwards by Morgan-Smith but was well saved by Sam Russell at the expense of another corner.  In stoppage time Harriers had another great chance to double their lead but Danny Jackman's shot curled beyond the reach of Russell and cannoned back off the far post.