WINGER Brian Smikle’s fine first-half strike ended Wrexham’s five-match winning streak in the Blue Square Premier at Aggborough.

The 23-year-old made it seven goals for the season to deny the red-hot Dragons. But Harriers rode their luck and needed the woodwork and keeper Adam Bartlett to help seal their third 1-0 win in a row.

Wes Baynes saw a 25-yard effort rattle the post early on as the visitors, backed by an 800-strong contingent of fans, started brightly.

Harriers took the lead in the 25th minute, when Smikle chested down Matthew Barnes-Homer’s cross and rifled a shot into the net.

Wrexham tried to hit back, but winger Nathan Woolfe and striker Jefferson Louis both hit the post.

Harriers’ top scorer Justin Richards came off with a head injury in the 54th minute to knock the home side out of their stride.

The hosts defended doggedly in the second-half as Wrexham pushed for a goal. Bartlett showed fantastic reflexes to palm away Patrick Suffo’s 64th-minute close-range effort.

The keeper also denied Baynes, while Marc Williams and Woolfe both came close but could not find the back of the net.

Harriers held on for a victory which lifted them one place to fourth in the league.

After the match, Mark Yates laughed off comparisons with Arsenal’s famous watertight defence after he watched his side keep a third consecutive clean sheet.

He said: “It seems a bit like ‘boring, boring Arsenal’ but the games haven’t been like that at all.

“We have just struggled to get the second goal and thankfully we’ve got some defenders who are on their mettle. When Adam Bartlett was needed he produced a fantastic save from Patrick Suffo. He does that every day in training and that gives the lads playing in front of him confidence.”

Smikle, Richards and Barnes-Homer have now bagged 27 goals between them so far this campaign.

Yates added: “Brian and the two strikers have 27 goals between them this season which is a fantastic return. Wrexham had too many chances, but I’m not taking anything from the players, they dug in and had some luck.

“It’s not always about playing pretty football, but I thought we played some really good stuff.”

Harriers: Bartlett, Baker, Creighton, Riley, Lowe, Smikle, Ferrell, Penn, Brittain (Jones, 88), Richards (Knights, 54), Barnes-Homer.

Referee: S P Beck.

Attendance: 2,403.