Kidderminster Harriers showed some real style in the sunshine this afternoon as they overcame old rivals Rushden and Diamonds at Nene Park thanks to easily the best performance of the season.

Even in the one previous win prior to today at Stafford, Harriers were criticised for not performing for the full 90 minutes but they finally found some form today and were easily good value for the win throughout and the only slight disappointment for boss Mark Yates will perhaps be that his side didn't win by a bigger margin after creating so many clear-cut chances.

Andy Ferrell was brought back into the starting XI at the expense of Brian Smikle who was struggling with a knock and he had his best game in a Harriers shirt and began to show some of the reasons why Yates re-signed him in the summer. He, Gavin Hurren and Russell Penn were especially dominant in midfield with Penn grabbing the only goal of the game in the second half.

In the early stages, Rushden's Michael Rankine will feel as though he should have done better after he fired into the arms of Scott Bevan from close-range, as from there it was almost all-Harriers with Penn going close with a free-header off a Harkness cross.

Both Justin Richards and James Constable went close before the interval - Constable rattled the crossbar with a fine long-range effort whilst Richards showed great movement inside the area before firing across the face of goal.

Rushden passed the ball around well but lacked any touch in the final third, as well as a little discipline as they continually provided Harkness with chances to test Paul Bastock from free-kicks. He forced one fine save before the break and thumped the bar with another nine minutes after the re-start.

The only goal of the game arrived on the hour mark; Constable seemed to be chasing a lost cause when he took the ball near the corner with two Rushden men up against him. He did superbly to swing in a great, deep ball for PENN to head home from close range.

Constable himself went close four minutes later after he cruised past Wayne Hatswell - his low finish had Bastock beaten but trickled passed the post. Rather than sitting on their one goal lead Harriers pressed forward for another as Rushden struggled to get the ball away from Ferrell - eleven minutes from time Penn had a shot blocked in the six-yard box but reacted quickly to cross for Constable who fired over.

The 250 Harriers fans who made the trip were in amazing voice today and they gave substitute Iyseden Christie a hero's welcome onto the pitch as he replaced the dangerous Richards - his arrival only served to make Harriers look even more threatening and he could have grabbed a goal for himself late on but Bastock saved well down low.

Exeter City arrive at Aggborough to test Harriers this weekend as one of the early BSP pace-setters but anything similar to today's effort should be enough to net Yates' men their first home league win of the campaign.