Hereford United 0 Kidderminster Harriers 1
Hereford boss Graham Turner was left to accentuate the positive after the surprise ending of their 16-match unbeaten run by Kidderminster Harriers.
Mark Yates had had plenty to say to his side after a tough week in training, and the Aggborough players certainly had enough opportunity to digest his words.
The aftermath of a four-goal home pasting by Aldershot meant Harriers had to forego their Sunday morning lie-ins and their usual midweek day off as Yates voiced his displeasure.
Come 5pm on Saturday, their extra work had been repaid with three points in front of a passionate 4,223 crowd.
Michael Blackwood, hauled off just before half-time in last week's dreadful show against Aldershot, was transformed into a hero with the deflected second-half winner to seal victory and hand second-placed Hereford a first league defeat since November 26.
Harriers assistant manager Neil Howarth said: "It's been a horrible week. We left the players in no doubt about how bad we were last Saturday and we had them in on Sunday morning to watch the video just to reiterate the point.
"Then we have had them in on Monday, Tuesday and on Wednesday which is normally their day off. They have earned their money this week and it was a good team performance."
The game's defining moments all went in Harriers' favour.
The Bulls had to play 55 minutes with ten men after midfielder Andy Ferrell kicked out at Terry Fleming in retaliation to a bruising late challenge and was red-carded, while Blackwood's 73rd-minute winner from 25 yards flashed past wrong-footed goalkeeper Wayne Brown thanks to a deflection from Bulls skipper Tamika Mkandawire.
Moments earlier, Hereford leading scorer Andy Williams had squandered their best chance when, given time and space after the ball rebounded off Johnny Mullins, he could only drill his right-footed effort beyond keeper John Danby and the right left-hand post.
But Harriers had more than matched the Bulls when it was 11 v 11, while the visitors managed 12 goalbound efforts and the hosts, seemingly stuck in third gear, failed to get a shot on target.
Kidderminster have struggled for any cutting thrust since the January sale of top scorer Iyseden Christie but newcomers Jon Newby, making his debut on loan from Bury, and Luke Reynolds, who has stepped up five divisions, asked the Bulls defence a few teasing questions with their mix of pace and power.
But they will settle for Blackwood's third goal of the season, no matter how it found its path into the net.
Howarth added: "We've not had the best of luck in front of goal in recent weeks. It's just nice to get some good fortune."
