IT is funny what a difference four quick wins can make but then not all that surprising considering the cramped Division Three table.

Confident Kidderminster Harriers are now in a prime position to challenge for the play-offs after Saturday's 3-0 win over Rushden and Diamonds.

Yet just a month ago there had been doom and gloom when Harriers slipped to a 1-0 defeat at bottom-of-the-table Carlisle United.

However, Harriers are currently flying and no more so than with the weekend beating of former Conference championship rivals who had previously gone 12 games without losing.

This was one many fans wanted to win and Jan Molby's men did not disappoint, taking firm control after a slow start.

They are creating plenty of chances through their 4-3-3 formation and every player appears to be working well within the system.

Another display based on sheer hard work mixed with a fair sprinkling of quality lifted the club to eighth, three points off Scunthorpe United.

It could only be expected that the man who would give them the initiative would be the on-fire Dean Bennett.

A fourth goal in as many league games was the latest example of the livewire's rise in confidence.

Saturday's hard-fought opening saw the first shot come from the right boot of on-loan Colin Larkin with Billy Turley saving low to his right on 23 minutes.

Just five minutes later, the impressive Ritchie Appleby fed Larkin on the right and the pacey teenager crossed for Bennett to slam home from six yards.

Those were just three Harriers players involved who all looked a class above the opposition.

Appleby was inspired in the three-man midfield but a couple of incidents, including a 22nd minute booking, suggest he may have to keep his temper in check.

Stuart Brock's good one-handed save from Ritchie Hanlon's 25-yard free-kick kept Harriers' noses in front at the interval.

The home side bossed the second half action and were only denied by the athletic Turley yet Rushden also had their moments.

Turley, once of Evesham United, pushed Larkin's header, created by Ian Clarkson's perfect right-wing cross, wide of the post on 50 minutes.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster then burst onto a Mark Blake pass and lobbed just over the bar.

Rushden could not cope with Larkin but they went down the other end with centre-back Mark Peters firing just wide from the edge of the area.

However, Turley was quickly off his line on 64 minutes to smother a Larkin effort after Abdou Sall's decisive run and through-ball.

The aware Brock was still required to keep Harriers' advantage intact, getting a firm hand to the unmarked Peters' header.

And he breathed a sigh of relief when ex-Walsall winger Paul Hall burst onto Craig Hinton's weak back header, rounded the keeper but could only find the side netting from an acute angle.

It was the last shout for Rushden who were quickly submerged by the red and white waves.

Turley threw himself across goal to tip away Bennett's header on 77 minutes and then saw experienced defender Barry Hunter block Bo Henriksen's goal-bound follow-up.

But the game was up on 84 minutes when Blake spectacularly flung himself at a Scott Stamps cross to head fiercely into the net.

Straight from kick-off, Rushden let in the persistent Larkin who raced away and slipped the ball past Turley.

The goals gave Harriers a deserved three-goal advantage and further enhanced their reputation among the leading pack.

With Saturday's visitors Luton losing 4-1 at struggling Macclesfield, it shows just how close the race could be.

HARRIERS: Brock 8; Clarkson 7, Sall 7, Hinton 7, Stamps 7; Appleby 8 (Ducros 87), Williams 7, Blake 7; Bennett 8, Henriksen 7 (Corbett 87), LARKIN 9 (Shilton 87). Subs not used: Murphy, Joy.

RUSHDEN: Turley; Sambrook, Hunter, Peters, Underwood; Hall (Talbot 82), Butterworth, Hanlon, Setchell (Brady 65); Thomson (Duffy 65), Partridge. Subs not used: Pennock, Rodwell.

ATTENDANCE: 3,014.