IN-FORM Jack Bearne netted his fourth of the season to help Harriers to a big Boxing Day win over Hereford at Edgar Street.

Bearne’s excellent effort in the first half was ultimately enough to separate the two sides on what was a battle of grit and concentration rather than flair and style.

Nonetheless, with the three points in the bag and a clean sheet alongside it, little else will matter to Russ Penn and his team as they followed up the FA Trophy win at Fylde with an important victory here.

The first half at least saw more action than the 45 that followed it – Tom Owen-Evans quickly tyring to impress against his former club, but firing over the bar with his second-minute effort.

With 17 on the clock Kai Lissimore almost opened the scoring. The teenager was an unexpected name on the team sheet following the unavailability of Shane Byrne at kick off, and his rising effort was clawed back with two hands by goalkeeper Dale Eve.

Seven minutes later it was Harriers who broke the deadlock. Capitalising on advantage played by the referee after a foul, Zak Brown’s insightful pass was latched onto by Bearne who took the ball into his stride before firing it over Eve and into the far corner of his net.

Marco Rus was a big threat for the hosts and he came closest to drawing them level before the break, the best of his efforts being well held in the Harriers goal by Tom Palmer.

The second half was much quieter in respect of genuine goal mouth chances – in fact there was very little for either side to cheer about, though Harriers were much the happier with that thanks to the single-goal lead.

On 64 minutes some good trickery from Hemmings almost made it 2-0 – almost out of nowhere he delivered a swinging cross that dipped dramatically and almost deceived Eve who needed to tip it over his bar.

Hereford sub Harry Pinchard and Rus had late efforts to try and level for the Bulls but neither came close to troubling Palmer who kept his clean sheet intact.