MANAGER Jan Molby believes Rushden & Diamonds are still favourites to win the Nationwide Conference -- despite his side storming into a four point lead at the top of the table.
Harriers stepped up their bid for promotion to the Football League last night when two goals in the last four minutes earned them a dramatic 2-1 victory at Doncaster Rovers.
Rushden, however, slipped up when they were held to a 1-1 home draw with Yeovil who grabbed their equaliser just four minutes from time.
And Harriers, who have played one more match than their Northamptonshire title rivals, have a chance to stretch their lead at the top to seven points on Saturday when they entertain Altrincham. Rushden are involved in the FA Umbro Trophy.
After last night's drama when Harriers snatched their late winner, Molby said: "It's a bonus that Yeovil came back late and equalised -- it gives us a little bit of a cushion.
"Rushden have 12 games left and we have 11. Rushden, though, have eight of there's at home, so I still think they are favourties. But if you look at my players and the spirit they have, you can't rule us out."
Molby, however, was not impressed by his side's overall performance last night when their goalscoring heroes were midfielder Dean Bennett and striker Stewart Hadley.
"I had been worried. We weren't at the races and Doncaster were hungrier than us," he said.
"I don't know whether Doncaster played everything by the book. I thought they were very, very physical and all we wanted was the referee to be in charge. He lost it in the first five minutes which made it very difficult for us.
"But the character that the players showed was absolutely fantastic."
Hadley, who pinched the points for Kidderminster with an 89th minute winner, said: "The ball got headed back to me by Paul Webb who was actually sitting on the floor.
"I just managed to get a head to it and it trickled in the corner, but I'm not bothered how they go in at the moment."
Meanwhile, the leading four teams in the Conference -- Harriers, Rushden, Dover and Yeovil -- have received the all-clear for promotion to the Nationwide League. The clubs have been awarded an 'A' grading following visits by League officials.
Fifth placed Hereford United currently hold an A grading and will be re-visited at the April 1 deadline if still in title contention.
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