Hereford 0 Harriers 1 - Mat Kendrick reports from Edgar Street

WHAT a difference a week makes for Kidderminster Harriers and Michael Blackwood.

In the space of seven days, Blackwood went from 4-1 fall-guy to derby-winning hero.

And Mark Yates's men reverted back from out-of-sorts soft touches to hard-to-beat Harriers, albeit for such a short while.

Having ended Aldershot's dismal away sequence of six defeats by rolling over without a fight, Kidderminster might have feared the worst heading for Hereford.

But a disciplined display and a deserved slice of luck from the visitors went some way to repairing the previous week's damage and all-but-ended Hereford's title hopes.

Hereford were unbeaten in 17 Conference matches as their customary end-of-season surge gathered pace once again.

But Graham Turner's perennial runners-up shot themselves in the foot with a stupid sending off late in the first half - and Harriers took full advantage.

There was no question that Terry Fleming's tackle on Andy Ferrell was late, although the slippery conditions underfoot clearly contributed to the ugly appearance of the foul.

But there was no excuse for the retaliation that followed as Ferrell aimed a frustrated kick at the Kidderminster midfielder.

The referee had no hesitation in showing Ferrell a straight red-card, even though he dawdled over booking Fleming after consultation with his linesman.

By then the game was nip and tuck with new boy Jon Newby's pace harnessed effectively alongside Luke Reynolds' good movement and tireless running up front.

The Harriers back four were barely recognisable from the previous week's horror show as loanee Simon Rea formed a solid partnership with Daryl Burgess.

There were a couple of frights when a Burgess slip almost let in Andy Williams, while Stuart Fleetwood slid a great chance wide and Tamika Mkandawire nodded Alex Jeannin's cross off target.

But Harriers gave as good as they got and created several presentable openings of their own.

A rejuvenated Gareth Sheldon repeatedly got the better of his ex-Exeter colleague Jeannin, firing a snapshot straight at keeper Wayne Brown and dragging a low shot wide.

Johnny Mullins came close when his towering header at the far post was beaten away by Brown, who was also well placed to stop a hooked effort from Reynolds and a low drive from Blackwood.

But there was nothing the Bulls keeper could do to keep out Blackwood's winner on 73 minutes, with the strike owing much to a heavy deflection off Mkandawire.

Blackwood, who was substituted before half-time against Aldershot, deserved credit for being positive enough to have a pop from 25 yards as Hereford's 10 men tired.

And he got his just reward when his shot ricocheted off the Bulls captain, wrong-footing Baker and rolling fortuitously into the centre of the net.

It could have been a different story for Hereford had Williams finished a one-on-one a moment earlier with Harriers waiting for a whistle after a bang on the head for Mullins.

But the lone frontman dragged his effort wide of the post and his aim was similarly askew with an injury-time header that went over.