Carlisle created enough chances to have won more comfortably, but lacklustre finishing again meant another nervy afternoon for the Brunton Park faithful, although a poor Kidderminster rarely looked like scoring.

A relieved Collins said after the game: “The way things are going the lads are going to put me in beside Gerard Houlier in hospital, there’s no doubt about that. We didn’t need their pressure in the last ten minutes, but you have that when you don’t put your chances away. It was funny the goal we scored was a set piece when we created in open play about three or four good chances. It ended up scrappy at the end but in fairness to the lads they stood their ground. The win was absolutely vital because the teams around us have lost. I told the lads we’ve been playing well and creating chances but it doesn’t wash, you’ve got to be putting points on the table. We can now build on this.”

Kidderminster were quicker into their stride, taking early control with Danny Williams shooting wide from a good Colin Larkin ball and Ian Clarkson providing a cross for Drewe Broughton to head narrowly wide.

Carlisle’s first effort came twelve minutes into the game when Brendan McGill cut inside before finding Steve Soley whose goalbound shot was blocked by Adie Smith.

The Cumbrians thought they had taken the lead with 21 minutes gone but an offside flag ruled out a Soley headed goal.

Foran then should have put a permanent mark on the score sheet after good work from Steve Halliday and Soley put him clear only for Harriers keeper Eric Nixon to save bravely at his feet.

On 33 minutes a good run by McGill made space for a twenty yard effort which had Nixon at full stretch.

Kidderminster then gave a timely reminder that they were still in the game when Crag Hinton’s cross was headed narrowly wide by Broughton.

The breakthrough came four minutes into the second half when Peter Murphy’s corner found Foran with a free header.

Soley was unlucky not to stretch the lead when his spectacular 30 yard volley hit Nixons left hand post with the keeper beaten. Dave Morley then got in on the act with a 25 yard free kick going narrowly wide.

As Carlisle dominated McGill again went close, shooting wide from a Soley through ball.

With fifteen minutes to go Carlisle inexplicably took their foot off the pedal handing the initiative to the Harriers.

This all pointed to a nervy finale with Broughton and Blake going close before a Foster piledriver was spectacularly turned away by Peter Keen.

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