Russell's 24th minute screamer proved to be the only goal of the game as the side etched out a hard-fought and richly deserved victory. They were made to work for it though, in the second half certainly, but in truth, the first period was all about the home side.

Lee Thompson and Andy White linked up well again, creating several chances before the break. However it was Jonny Harkness who was first to try his luck with two early free kicks in the first 15 minutes - both needed a safe pair of hands from Town 'keeper Phil Smith.

After failing with a third shot, Harkness did well to recycle the ball into the area for Thompson who shot just over the bar on 20 minutes. It was the lively Thompson who, via Gavin Hurren, sent Russell on his way four minutes later, with the former Hull youngster bursting down the side of the pitch before cutting neatly inside the defence and letting fly with a superb 25-yard shot that flew into the top corner of the net.

The goal seemed to further spur on Yates' men, with Johnny Mullins going agonisingly close with a 30th minute header from Harkness' corner.

Nine minutes later white shrugged off the challenge of the commanding David Woozley to snap the ball back across goal, only for Thompson to shoot just inches wide of the post.

The visitors emerged from the changing rooms with something of a fresh impetus for the second period, and quickly set about getting back on level terms with former Notts County and Exeter man Tony Scully in the thick of things for John Hollins' men.

Harriers continued to have the chances though, Mullins sent a powerful header just the wrong side of the bar just minutes after the re-start, before forcing a smart save from his own 'keeper John Danby shortly afterwards with Daryl Clare closing down quickly. Danby managed to tip the header over the bar, and the solid Harriers defence duly dealt with the resulting corner.

It was a great night for the entire back-line in truth be told, but more specifically Hurren, who battled hard throughout the night in his first start for the club since returning from a loan spell at Bromsgrove.

They put the Crawley attack under continuous pressure, even on one occasion managing to force the ball all the way back into the arms of 'keeper Smith.

Town did eventually get their chances though, and Scully was again the man causing problems as he left Danby grasping at thin air with one angled drive with 20 minutes to play, the ball luckily flying over the bar however. Substitute Danny Clay shot through a crowd of players and forced a smart save from Danby just moments earlier.

Harkness again went close with a now trademark free-kick on 76 minutes, his central drive forcing a fully-stretched parry from Smith who forced the ball away for a corner.

The defence continued to marshal things well as White and Thompson continued to press forward whenever possible, White in particular was unlucky not to have doubled Harriers' lead as he was adjudged to have fouled Smith in heading the ball in at close range from Russell's ball.