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Kidderminster Harriers climbed to second in the Blue Square Bet Premier with a gritty win over 10-man Alfreton.

Steve Burr's Harriers were front inside a minute when Amari Morgan-Smith fired in a low shot from 10 yards.

Ben Tomlinson's header levelled before Josh Gowling nodded home to restore the hosts' lead, Anthony Malbon's volley making it 3-1 before the break.

Alfreton, who played the second half with defender Leigh Franks in goal, then had Theo Streete sent off late on.

The visitors lost keeper Phil Barnes at the interval following a first-half thigh strain, while Streete was dismissed for retaliating following a challenge from Gowling.

But Harriers could not take advantage of being up against a stand-in keeper.

Apart from Malbon wasting one great double opening, the visitors were the better side after the break - and Franks remained virtually untested, even when the Harriers were up against 10 men for the final 15 minutes.

Alfreton's fourth straight defeat leaves them 17th, while Harriers' fifth successive league win gives Steve Burr's men the chance to go top on Tuesday night - if they win at Nuneaton and current leaders Wrexham lose at Barrow.

Morgan-Smith's strike was his first since arriving on loan from Macclesfield on January deadline day.