DEAN Bennett is continuing to repay the faith shown in him by manager Jan Molby by taking over at the top of Kidderminster Harriers'goalscoring charts.

The on-song 24-year-old's first half strike in Saturday's disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Exeter City at St James' Park was his fifth goal of the season, one more than strikers Drewe Brough-ton and Tony Bird.

For front-runner Bennett it is another landmark in a topsy-turvy year that began with Molby slapping him on the transfer list.

His ever-improving form, however, recently led to him signing a new two-and-a-half-year deal with Harriers who snapped him up from Bromsgrove Rovers nearly two years ago.

Bennett, who used to be on West Bromwich Albion's books, admitted that the despair of being put up for sale acted as a timely 'kick up the backside'.

He said: "It was a shock when I was put on the transfer list. I had not done myself justice after we started life in the League. I was just going through the motions, but that decision was a kick up the backside.

"When I sat down with the gaffer, we had a good chat. He told me what was expected, but he didn't make the decision sound as though it was the end of the world."

Bennett, who celebrated his 24th birthday last Thursday, has scored in Kidderminster's last five league matches and has so far made 22 appearances, including three as a substitute.

* Harriers have arranged their postponed home Division Three game against Luton or January 8.

The match was originally due to have been staged on Saturday, December 1, but the Hatters cried off because of a flu and injury crisis.

The re-arrangement means Kidderminster have got four home games in 18 days, starting with Rochdale on Boxing Day, Hull City three days later, Luton then Darlington on January 12.

* Harriers central defender Mark Shail has turned down the chance of a loan move to Nationwide Conference strugglers Chester City.

The 33-year-old former Worcester City campaigner, whose contract at Aggborough ends at the end of the season, has made only five first team appearances for Harriers so far this term.

* Kidderminster emerged from Saturday's defeat against Exeter without any injuries problems, al-though experienced defender Ian Clarkson has been laid low by flu.