Kidderminster Harriers 3 Hull City 0

JAN Molby rated Kidderminster Harriers' 3-0 Nationwide League Division Three win over promotion-chasing Hull City at Aggborough on Saturday as probably the best since he took over as manager two-and-a-half years ago.

Ninth-in-the-table Harriers clinch a memorable victory with goals by Bo Henriksen, Colin Larkin and Dean Bennett to move to within three points of a play-off place.

The win followed their home 4-1 Boxing Day triumph over high-riding Rochdale and delighted Molby commented: "The last two performances here have said it all. They have been absolutely fantastic.

"I think on the evidence we have seen Hull are a better team than Rochdale, but nevertheless we gave them the run-around. The scoreline doesn't suggest how dominant and how well we played."

Harriers, who lost 2-1 at Hull on August 27, also had to overcome the loss of injured central defender Abdou Sall who limped off in the 22nd minute with a groin strain.

His departure led to Danny Williams moving into defence and Bennett dropping back into midfield with substitute Drewe Broughton taking his place up front.

The changes, however, failed to unsettle Kidderminster who confidently went on to beat the Tigers for the first time in four attempts in the Football League after both of last season's fixtures had ended in draws.

Molby said: "We had to overcome the loss of Sall and some of the football and pace we played at was terrific.

"To win 3-0 against Hull is an excellent result and at the moment we are delighted with the way things are going. The energy the players showed was outstanding and we'll have to show it again at Mansfield tomorrow.

"All in all it wouldn't be far off the best performance probably in the two and a half years I've been here.

"As of yet we haven't seen how far they can go. I still think there's more to come from this squad of players, so I'd suggest exciting times are ahead.

"Having the slow start to the season we had isn't ideal but we are coming into form at the right time and there's no reason to suggest that we can't keep something like this going to the end of the season."

Harriers, who have now notched 16 goals in their last five home league games, signalled their intentions as early as the third minute when a 25-yard volley from Larkin was cleared off the line by quick-moving Nicky Mohan.

Keeper Paul Musselwhite then pulled off a tremendous save in the 12th minute to prevent Richie Appleby from scoring with a powerful drive.

Larkin had Hull under pressure with another couple of efforts before Harriers were forced to reorganised due to Sall's injury.

Within four minutes, however, Kidderminster grabbed the lead when Appleby nodded the ball on to Larkin who whipped in a pin-point cross for Henriksen to score with a bullet header.

Lively Larkin continued to worry the Hull rear-guard with his pace and ten minutes before half time lobbed just over after latching on to a perfect long pass from Williams.

Confident Harriers continued to hold the upper hand after the break and forged 2-0 ahead when Larkin beat two defenders before slotting his shot past Musselwhite.

Henriksen and Broughton both went close before lethal Bennett scored for the seventh consecutive league match.

His chance came in the 68th minute when he netted from close range after his initial shot had been blocked.

GOALSCORERS: Henriksen 26 (1-0), Larkin 49 (2-0), Bennett 68 (3-0).

STAR PLAYER: Dean Bennett.

CARDS: Kidderminster: Blake (foul), Hinton (dissent). Hull: Alexander (diving), Greaves (dissent) (all yellow).

ATTENDANCE: 3,962.

REFEREE: Mr Bill Jordan (Tring).

KIDDERMINSTER: Brock 7, Stamps 7, Hinton 7, Williams 8, Clarkson 7, Bennett 9, Blake 7, Sall 6 (Broughton, 22, 7), Larkin 8 ( 80), Appleby 8, Henriksen 7 (Foster, 69, 6). Subs (not used): Danby, Joy.

HULL: Musselwhite, Petty, Holt, Mohan, Goodison, Whitmore (Matt-hews, 46), Greaves (Dudfield, 46), Sneekes, Johnsson, Beresford, Alexander. Subs (not used): Glennon, Williams, Rowe.