Report by Matt Wall - stats provided by the Press Association

A late goal from Matthew Barnes-Homer made it two home wins on the spin for Harriers as they saw off a battling Gateshead side 3-2 at Aggborough on Saturday.

After falling behind, Harriers showed their mettle to get in front but a fine strike from the northerners looked like good work would again be undone, but the 80th minute striker's effort ensured it was a home victory.

Some superb build-up play from the hosts opened up their visitors on 11 minutes with Darryl Knights sand David McDermott looking sharp but Lee Baker's cross had just a little too much on it as it flew over Jim Provett's goal.

Moments later something of an early disaster struck - Alex Francis curling a freakish beauty of a free-kick from distance past Coleman who had no chance as Harriers stood looking shell-shocked.

Boosted by some good vocal support, Mark Yates' side looked to respond early but Matthew Barnes-Homer's 18th minute shot was held well by Provett - just after, Nathan Hayward was introduced into the action with Dean Bennett forced off with an early knock.

Their determined character got its reward on 26 minutes - a pacy break from Barnes-Homer and a whipped cross saw Gateshead's Chris Swailes under all sorts of pressure as forced a header past his own goalkeeper.

It should have been 2-1 almost immediately - Hayward's neat, intelligent ball to McDermott allowed the winger to put in a cross that Barnes-Homer volleyed powerfully over the bar.

Five minutes before the break, though, the turn-around was complete as Harriers took the lead, Barnes-Homer's through ball into the box didn't quite make it through the Gateshead back-line on its own but a wicked deflection left the visitors stood like statues as Brian Smikle nipped in to lash it home.

Hayward, McDermott and Knights all combined to help Harriers nearly strike a third, their work left Gateshead asleep again as this time skipper McPhee poked a toe at the ball ahead of the goalkeeper - cruelly it trickled towards the empty net before hitting the post and coming out.

Barnes-Homer's effort ten minutes after the break signaled Harriers intent to build on their lead - played in well by Knights, the front man drove across the face of goal with Provett beaten.

Sloppy defending on 62 minutes allowed Gateshead back into the game when they perhaps should've already been put to bed - the pace of the hosts' game had completely dropped off and they were made to pay when skipper Kris Gate nailed tremendous volley into the top corner of the net from 20 yards.

With a little over a quarter of an hour to go boss Yates threw on Kyle Haldey for a late burst, in place of fellow winger McDermott.

As the game drifted into an affair lacking in any real quality, it was some good, old fashioned persistence that put them in front once more with just ten minutes to to - Barnes-Homer chased down the luckless Swailes on the edge of the area and Mark Robinson from around six yards to get to the ball and pass it into the back of the net.

After Barnes-Homer's useful knock-down four minutes later, Knights almost made it 4-2 with a fine volley but the effort flew past the post with Provett gasping at thin-air.