Harriers 1
Grays 0
DARRYL Knights made it two goals in as many games as Harriers outplayed Grays in a one-sided Blue Square clash at Aggborough on Saturday.
Knights shined during an impressive performance by the home side, who could have won by a cricket score if they had been more clinical in front of goal.
Victory built on Tuesday's midweek thrashing of Stafford Rangers and recorded their first back-to-back home league wins in over a year.
Manager Yates picked the side which defeated Stafford Rangers 6-0 in midweek, meaning the strike force of Matthew Barnes-Homer, Iyseden Christie and Knights started the second game in a row.
In comparison Grays chairman and manager Mike Woodward played striker Danny Kedwell, who bagged a hat-trick against Harriers in August, on his own up front.
The home side started confidently and could have opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Christie latched onto Dean Bennett's through ball but he was denied by keeper Ross Flitney.
Midfielder Russ Penn headed a chance over in the 20th minute after a good cross by Simon Russell.
But on-loan Yeovil man Knights put the hosts ahead in the 24th minute when he controlled Christie's pass and rifled a low 20-yard shot into the bottom left corner.
The visitors struggled to pose a threat to Harriers as they pushed for more goals. Penn shot across the face of goal after swapping passes with Christie.
Grays improved at the start of the second half but were no threat to Harriers. Keeper Chris MacKenzie dived at Jamie Taylor's feet as he powered into the box.
Penn squandered a glorious chance to make it 2-0 in the 75th minute. Knights sent a dangerous pass rolling across the box and Christie intelligently stepped over it to wrong-foot Grays' defence, but the midfielder blazed over.
Christie also should have secured a deserved victory near the end when he was played through by Simon Russell, but as he hesitated on the ball defender Simon Downer did enough to put him off.
Grays had a chance to score late on but Taylor shot wide in the dying minutes, as Harriers showed signs they can end the season on a high note.
Harriers: MacKenzie 6; Kenna 6 (Bignot, 66, 6); Creighton (c) 6; Jones 7; Russell 7; Penn 6; Bennett 7; Barnes-Homer 6; Jeannin 6; Christie 7, KNIGHTS 8 (McGrath, 89).
Grays: Flitney; Sambrook; Goss; Stuart (c); Downer; J Taylor; Kedwell; Ashton (Day, 46); Patterson (Obersteller, 66); Watson (Watson, 41); Standing.
Referee: SP Cummins. Attendance: 1,262l.
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