THE Cambridge hack who suggested the Abbey Stadium was becoming a happy-hunting ground for Kidderminster Harriers was given short shrift by Stuart Watkiss after this victory.

"Some good it did us last year, let's hope it has more of a knock-on effect this time," was the Harriers boss's blunt response.

Let's hope he's right.

Kidderminster's 3-1 win over the U's back in January ultimately proved to be a false dawn in their battle for Football League survival.

But they need to make sure Monday's 2-0 victory over their fellow relegated side is a watershed moment in their bid for immediate promotion. Watkiss admitted he would only regard it as a positive result if Kidderminster could use it as a springboard for success against Canvey Island on Friday -- and beyond.

Harriers have played better this season and not taken maximum points, with the trips to Exeter and Scarborough the obvious examples, along with Saturday's frustrating draw with Southport.

But the mark of a good side is to win when the going gets tough and on Monday Harriers showed the ugly side to their game, even if it was supplemented by two beautiful goals.

Skipper Mark Jackson was constantly kept on his toes by Cambridge striker Fola Onibuje, who is an explosive concoction of pace, power and close control.

Onibuje did not give Jackson a moment's peace and was central to all of the U's most dangerous raids as the hosts looked like continuing their encouraging start to the season.

The towering target-man came close to opening the scoring midway through the second half after bulldozing his way past Wayne Hatswell and Martin O'Connor, only to be denied by John Danby, while his threatening first half run and cross for Robert Duffy, forced Wayne Evans into evasive action to clear the danger.

The fact that Harriers weathered the storm from Cambridge and grew in confidence as the contest wore on will hopefully be a sign of things to come for their Conference campaign.

Just before the break, Simon Russell, hoping to add Paul Scholes-style goals to his impressive approach play, stung Cambridge keeper Darren Behcet's hand with a long range strike the Manchester United man would have been proud of, while Daryl Burgess nodded over a corner at the back post.

But it was in the second half that Harriers came into their own. Driven on by the energy and endeavour of teenage loanee Simon Heslop, Kidderminster actually started to believe that they could win the game.

The all-important breakthrough came on 74 minutes when Taiwo Atieno struck with a carbon copy of his opening day goal against Woking, only from closer range.

Once again Hatswell was the provider with a sweet left foot cross from the touchline and Atieno climbed superbly to steer a powerful header into the roof of the net.

The on-loan Walsall's striker's joy was short-lived as he was stretchered off with a painful ankle injury just five minutes later, but Harriers sealed the points without him.

Gareth Sheldon made up for his penalty miss against Southport with the second goal four minutes from time - a strike which had a touch of Geoff Hurst's controversial World Cup 1966 goal about it.

Set up by a fine interception and pass by Terry Fleming, Sheldon unleashed a powerful drive which ricocheted off the bar and down onto the goal-line.

There was no Russian linesman on hand, but the referee's assistant had no hesitation in flagging for the goal.

Although eight points from five games represents a reasonable enough start for Harriers, Watkiss and Co know the time has come for Kidderminster to really kick on and climb the Conference.